TC Weekly News July 13 - 19, 2024

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS GOVERNMENT

ENERGY AND UTILITIES DEPARTMENT

COMMISSIONING OF SOLAR PV SYSTEMS AT THREE TCI GOVERNMENT CLINICS

Providenciales, July 4, 2024 – The Turks and Caicos Government (TCIG) is pleased to announce a leap towards sustainability and energy efficiency with the successful commissioning of three solar PV systems at three TCIG healthcare clinics on the islands of Providenciales, North Caicos and Middle Caicos.

Leading the ceremonial commissioning of the three solar installations were the Acting Premier, Hon. Jamel Robinson, Hon. Kyle Knowles, Minister of Public Safety and Utilities, Hon. Shaun Malcolm, Minister of Health, and Engr. Delano R. Arthur, Energy and Utilities Commissioner.

“The event was a testament to our Government’s unwavering determination to harness the power of the sun,” commented the Hon. Mr. Robinson. “The clinics, including the Blue Hills Clinic on Providenciales, the Bottle Creek Clinic in North Caicos, and the Middle Caicos Clinic, are now equipped to significantly reduce their carbon footprint, particularly on sun-drenched days.”

Installed by local solar provider Green Revolution Ltd., the three clinics are also equipped with battery storage to store excess electricity generated during sunny hours for use at night or during cloudy periods.

The Hon. Kyle Knowles commented that it was through a shared vision that commissioning at the three sites was realized. “Partnerships of this nature are important as it speaks to the resilience of Turks and Caicos in tapping into the renewable energy sector. Therefore, this timely investment will benefit the clinics across the islands , and we look forward to the future expansion”, he said.

“This transition in our energy consumption from

fossil fuels to a cleaner and greener energy source not only helps with energy cost savings for the Government, but underscores our commitment to a more sustainable future for the Islands,” said the Hon. Mr. Malcolm. “I am pleased to say that the South Caicos Clinic and the Wellness Center in Grand Turk will also have solar PVs and batteries installed under this program.”

Also in attendance for the commissioning were

officials from the Ministry of Public Safety and Utilities including Deputy Permanent Secretary TeAnn Thomas; the Department of Health, Primary Health Care Manager Ms. Alrisa M. Gardiner; the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR), Asst. Director Dewandre Smith; and the Energy and Utilities Department, Dr. Eric F. Salamanca.

For the Turks and Caicos Islands, this groundbreaking project represents a major step on the path to a clean, renewable energy future. The project is made possible through the support of the Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity (RESEMBID) programme. RESEMBID is a 47-project progamme funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France - the development cooperation agency of the Government of France, and supports sustainable human development efforts in 12 Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) - Aruba, Anguilla, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Montserrat, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Barthélemy, Sint Maarten, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

HON JAMELL ROBINSON

MINISTER KYLE KNOWLES

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS GOVERNMENT

AND UTILITIES DEPARTMENT

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLAND’S GOVERNMENT ENGAGES RENEWABLE ENERGY EXPERTS POWER ADVISORY ON RENEWABLE ENERGY BILL

June 27, 2024, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands – The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCIG) is pleased to advise that it has engaged independent consultants Power Advisory LLC to assist in bringing the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Renewable Energy and Resource Planning Bill(RE Bill) into law.

Led by the Energy and Utilities Department under the leadership of Commissioner Delano Arthur, the TCIG, along with the support of Power Advisory, will engage in a comprehensive consultation program over the next two months with key stakeholders to the RE Bill including residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), the country’s electricity utility, independent power producers and other parties.

“We are very pleased to have partnered with Power Advisory”, explained Commissioner Arthur. “Their team brings extensive experience and expertise to the table, and their support will be instrumental in ensuring the final RE Bill considers and is reflective of the perspectives of all key stakeholders in the energy sector here in

ARTHUR, EUD COMMISSIONER TCI.”

The Renewable Energy and Resource Planning Bill intends to provide a structured framework for renewable energy systems including licensing and interconnection, as well as the development of integrated resource planning for the Energy sector in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Power Advisory LLC is an electricity sectorfocused management consulting firm that specializes in energy market analysis and strategy, power procurement, policy development, regulatory and litigation support, market design, and project development and feasibility assessment. More information may be found at the company’s website: www.poweradvisoryllc. com

“We will be sharing a great deal more information on the RE Bill and upcoming opportunities for learning and providing perspectives in the near future,” added Mr. Arthur. “Please stay tuned to media in the days and weeks ahead for details on ways to engage in this important work.”

There will be a ten-week consultation period for the RE Bill, which commences on the 1st July, 2024 and concludes on the 8th September, 2024. The full text of the RE Bill can be found on The Energy and Utilities Department’s website at www.gov.tc/eud. Questions and comments concerning the RE Bill or this statement can be sent to eud@gov.tc.

DELANO

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS GOVERNMENT

ENERGY AND UTILITIES DEPARTMENT

TCI GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY FEASIBILITY STUDY

July 1, 2024, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands – The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the launch of the muchanticipated feasibility study for clean, renewable offshore wind energy in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).

A true pioneering initiative led by the TCI Government’s Energy and Utilities Department, the study will be conducted under the European Union-funded Green Overseas Programme, which is implemented by Expertise France, and in partnership with contractor RICARDO-AEA LIMITED, an ISOcertified global consultancy that delivers strategic, environmental and engineering solutions.

“This exciting project will assess the feasibility of fixed and floating offshore wind energy farms in the waters surrounding Turks and Caicos Islands,” stated Mr. Delano Arthur, Commissioner of TCIG’s Energy and Utilities Department. “The vast and varied waters surrounding our Islands offer great potential for clean, reliable energy generation, boosting renewable energy production while enabling TCI’s limited land availability to be used for other development.”

The study will look at the feasibility of two options for offshore development: fixed offshore wind in the south and southwest of Providenciales Island in shallow waters of 2.5 to 4 metres in depth, and floating offshore wind located

north of Providenciales Island in deeper waters of up to 1,000 metres. This comprehensive evaluation aims to identify the most viable options to harness the vast wind resources of the region’s waters. Further, the study will recommend potential development timelines from 2025 to 2040.

A major component of this feasibility study is understanding the environmental aspect, which is crucial to assessing the potential impacts on marine ecosystems, wildlife and coastal environments. RICARDO-AEA LIMITED will conduct environmental feasibility to understand how offshore wind installations might affect local biodiversity.

“Among the challenges the feasibility study will examine are wind resilience to hurricanes and other storm activity,” added Commissioner Arthur. “This project not only represents a commitment to clean energy but also aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainable development.”

The feasibility study is in alignment with and supports TCI Vision 2040 and the National Energy Policy. It also aligns with the Paris Agreement and UN SDG No. 7.

DELANO ARTHUR, EUD COMMISSIONER

Premier vows to investigate Red Hospitality amid monopoly concerns

BY OLIVIA ROSE

In a heated turn of events, Premier Hon Charles Washington Misick has pledged a thorough investigation into the business practices of Red Hospitality, an international excursion booking agency, accused of employing predatory tactics to monopolise the local water sports industry.

This move comes in response to mounting public outrage and accusations that the company is employing hostile takeover tactics and a vertical integration model to monopolise the water sports industry in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Local water sports operators, who met with the Premier and other government officials on July 8th, 2024, allege that Red Hospitality is using its financial clout to push out

existing players at all levels of the industry.

This includes booking services, concierge services, tour operators, and Jet Ski operators.

Premier Misick expressed his firm commitment to addressing these concerns, emphasising the government’s dedication to fair competition, economic justice, inclusive growth, and sustainability.

“Our priority is to protect our local businesses, promote healthy competition, and ensure the sustainability of our water sports and tourism industry,” he stated.

Last American fined and released for ammo possession

– travellers once again advised to check their luggage before travelling

BY DELANA ISLES

Forty-six-year-old Sharitta Grier, an American tourist who was in May arrested for unauthorized possession of two bullets prior to boarding an outboard flight, has been fined and given a suspended sentence.

Grier, who was arrested on May 13 with the bullets in her bag, is the last American tourist hauled before the court to answer to charges of illegal possession of ammunition and/or gun.

At the time of her arrest at the Howard Hamilton International Airport, she was leaving the TCI after celebrating Mother’s Day weekend with her daughter.

She appeared before Justice Tanya Lobban-Jackson on Thursday, July 11, and was given a 23-week sentence – suspended for one year - and a fine of $1,500.

Grier, a resident of Orlando, Florida, was represented by attorney Sheena Mair, while Deputy Director of the Office of Public Prosecutions Angela Brooks appeared for the Crown.

As was the case for her fellow Americans, the Judge found that there were exceptional circumstances in Grier’s case as well. This allowed her to depart from the mandatory minimum 12-

year custodial sentence under the

Her sentence hopefully brings to an end the incidence of Americans travelling to the Turks and Caicos Islands with guns and ammunition that they are not authorised to carry in the territory.

The high number of these incidences led to conflicts between the US and local authorities when their citizens were arrested, prompting fake bomb threats to TCI Airports, as well as airports in other British Overseas Territories and Caribbean islands.

In almost all of the cases, save one, the ammunition and gun went undetected by the TSA in the United States, and were picked up by the security scanners at TCI airports.

Other cases involved Airline personnel erroneously informing American travellers that they can travel with their weapon to other destinations.

Grier was the fifth American to be charged with illegal possession of gun and or ammunition under the TCI’s Firearm Ordinance.

Tourists are once again advised that Turks and Caicos Islands authorities strictly enforce all firearms and ammunition-related laws.

The penalty for illegal possession of a firearm, ammunition, or other weapon in the Turks and Caicos Islands can result in a minimum custodial sentence of twelve years, a fine, or both.

As advised by the US authorities to its citizens in May, people should check their luggage when packing for a trip outside of the United States to ensure there are no stray ammunition in them when travelling, as the US gun laws, or licensing do not apply to other countries.

owners and influential figures within the community. Ralph Higgs, former Tourism Minister, voiced his concerns, stating, “The Red deal which was recently announced is a ‘Red Hot Deal’ that may further disempower and marginalise our people.”

Higgs further lamented the erosion of local control in various sectors of the economy, including construction, real estate, property management, and water sports. He called for a revisiting of reserved economic sectors to ensure that Turks and Caicos Islanders have a fair chance at success in their own country.

The Premier reiterated the government’s unwavering support for local entrepreneurs and its commitment to maintaining an open dialogue with all industry stakeholders, a testament to our transparency and willingness to listen and efforts are being made to find a solution that is mutually beneficial, according to a statement from the government.

The controversy stems from a recent deal between Red Hospitality and several resorts in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The agreement, which has been widely circulated on social media, mandates that resorts must now solicit the services of Red Hospitality for water excursions, rather than booking directly with local operators.

This arrangement has drawn sharp criticism from local business

Audric Skippings, PDM ED6 candidate, also condemned the partnership, highlighting its detrimental impact on local vendors. He argued that granting exclusive booking rights to Red Hospitality threatens the livelihoods of these vendors and reduces choices for tourists.

In a letter dated June 17, 2024, Alvin Hegner, Country Director of RED Hospitality and Leisure, informed local operators of the forthcoming changes. He stated that Red Hospitality would be managing the hotels’ Preferred Vendor Program, allowing guests to book local experiences through vetted and contracted third-party vendors.

As the investigation unfolds, the future of the water sports industry in the Turks and Caicos Islands hangs in the balance. The outcome will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for local businesses, the tourism sector, and the overall economy of the territory.

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Premier Hon Charles Washington Misick and Deputy Premier Hon Jamell Robinson met with local water sports operations (TCIG Photo)

A smiling Sharitta Greer and her attorney Sheena Mair following her sentencing hearing (Facebook photo)

law.

“HOMEGROWN” GUN VIOLENCE

The Turks and Caicos Islands has experienced a massive rise in gun violence, gang formations and wanton killing. Our once peaceful, God-fearing nation is now faced with social turmoil, which is eroding the very fabric of our being.

Many blame the influx of other nationalities, especially Haitians and to a lesser extent those from the English-speaking Caribbean, for the rise in crime; and although these assumptions are valid, there is more to it than a foreign invasion.

Recently, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) disclosed that US-based TCIslanders are actively involved in the illicit gun trade back home.

Commissioner of Police, Mr Edvin Martin said “To a large extent, a lot of the weapons that are arriving in the Caribbean region are actually being perpetrated by individuals who are from the respective domestic states…”

What are your thoughts?

Blame can go around

The rise in crime is not an isolated incident. All the countries in the region are experiencing such, as the varying political orders fight to see who is left or right, the underworld has seen a resurgence and that has resulted in them becoming more organised and bolder with the aim of searching for new territories.

To nip this in the bud would take a concerted effort and the blame can go around all, but we need to be calculated in our approach.

A changed social dynamic

It seems not so far from “yesteryear that TCI was known as a peaceful, God-fearing nation”. Now today with new people, new cultures, and a changed social dynamic; the country is facing ‘eternal turmoil’ from in and from without.

It is a trend that the powers that be seem defeated over. Unlike any other time in TCI’s history where the elected component of the ‘Executive’ get to sit on the National

vulnerable amongst us” then you know they have nothing to offer the crime-fighting and policing process.

They’ve lost the script and are searching for scapegoats. With this kind of law enforcement or policy-making, we all are at risk, as they are searching “in the dark” for answers. They’ve run out of ideas, or they never had any ideas in the first place and the public’s reliance on the Government and the erstwhile members of the NSC for answers are all misplaced.

The most obvious and immediate source for answers must be the people and found in the context of a public forum. A public forum would enable the ‘public’, as a “societal construct”, to regain confidence, a source of information that the police cannot easily get, would emerge and the native population would feel as an important part of the policymaking Process when it comes to crime.

When, in the past, the TCI started Crime Stoppers, which was then a collaboration of native, expat and other nationalities, it worked, crime numbers were ideally “under control”. The police and the National Security Council could take a cue from that project. A democratic and interesting concept indeed because of the valuable component of public participation and input.

Bosses must be Belongers

The police know very well how to get the intel that they need. The recently passed law permits them to gather it. The bosses must be Belongers. It won’t be long now, and the trials will have to be done in the UK using very secure courtrooms and prisons.

Police read or referenced old reports they would have realised that the TCI is host to disaffected youth and groupings from the region such as Haiti. These developments and trends are hardly studied and often ignored. It is likely that disaffected youths in the TCI, the US and other countries are the ones sending the guns in.

One didn’t need a fining or ‘eureka moment’ to realise this fact. Certain reports and population studies from the past may have given an indicator were the problem was. “What are you going to do with this finding”?

The point has been raised that the PDM government 2016-2021 took the report further but ‘we don’t know where”? A further example that when you take office, you need to involve the former government in certain areas of policy because at one time “they carried the ball and know where the skeletons are buried”.

They would be able to show why and how terms of reference- were created for the various reports and the new government would be able to make critical findings to carry certain initiatives further. Law enforcement in the TCI could have then liaised with US agencies to address these issues.

Stopping the guns and knowing “where to go” to do so, would have been critical over the past 24 months when crime spiked and spiralled in the TCI.

Criminals are criminals

Security Council (the “NSC”), where the Premier and or Minister of Finance get to contribute directly to crime-fighting policy, they all seem ‘overwhelmed”.

Even though Governors are responsible for the police, ministers now have a direct input into crime-fighting policies. It is like they cannot cope and find the right solutions. We can blame the Haitians and any other demographic living among us but that will not solve the problem. Ministers, commissioners of police, premiers and incumbents on that Great NSC will always be on a ‘fool’s errand’ to find solutions unless the public is directly involved and they are not.

Had the public and the NSC been properly assembled in an ongoing stakeholder’s summit, they would have found out a long time ago that the weapons that flood the streets are coming in from regional and US sources. The people in the community know this but when one is sitting in an ivory tower of ideas, simple truths like these are escapable.

Blaming the least amongst us

When a government or law enforcement agencies resort to blaming the “least or most

“Stakeholders” abroad

This cannot be the new “eureka moment for the TCI that the police, in the form of “the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) disclosed that US-based TCIslanders are actively involved in the illicit gun trade back home”.

It stands to reason that the TCI is not a maker or manufacturer of guns or ammunition but rather the victim of this trade. Then there are the reports and consultations that assessed the vulnerable population groups in the past and two groups were named. The guns must come from “somewhere” and the impetus is home-grown.

It is our TCI youth and TCI rearedHaitian, brothers and sisters. They are sending the “ammo” in. These were Turks & Caicos Islanders and Haitians and a 2012 report showed that no efforts were taken but nothing was done. It has gotten worst. Why focus on population reports that ‘end up on the shelf”?

Had the government, NSC and the

This bad-boy mentality has encompassed our very existence. Young TCIslanders now feel you have to get a gun to be a “bad boy”. The reality is that more often than not, “bad boys” end up six feet under. We need to be our brothers’ keepers and not our brothers’ destroyers.

Public consultation needed

This national Security Council (“NSC”) and the government may be faulted for not ‘getting with the public enough” on these issues. There is that growing feeling that the people are being left out and that they do have information that would help the

Judge says TCI Status Commission usurped Governor’s power

– orders Commission to reconsider rejected applications

BY DELANA ISLES

Justice Anthony Gruchot has quashed the TCI Status Commission’s decision to deny several residents Turks and Caicos

Islander status, urging them to reconsider the applications as they had overstepped their mandate.

The judge’s verdict follows an application for a judicial review of the commission’s decision to deny

process.

The idea is to liaise with PDM and PNP and engage the public. Let genuine talks commence to unearth the root of the gun, its importation and related problems.

Are we still a God-fearing nation?

The TCI does not seem to be a total God-fearing nation anymore because there are new and ‘rather pagan’ population groups, who are lost in so many ways, who live here, but do not believe what we believe.

Then our children are no longer taught from childhood about the things of God and are brainwashed by ‘ignorant professors, who have also been brainwashed by other ignorant professors and texts at university, saying that there is no God’. We are essentially dealing with the paradigm of the fool.

A well-cultured and “educated fool” today without moral leanings and conscience, controlled by an emotional elastic, without self-control and moral grounding.

With the emerging belief in God ‘gone’, there is no natural affection, lives ‘do not mean anything any longer because the people, ie this generation, has strayed. Ironically a most ignored admonition is the edict found in the TCIS, 2011 Constitution, is that “the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands as a God-fearing people with convictions based on sound Christian culture, values and principles, tolerant of other religions; Affirm their intention to: maintain the highest standards of integrity in their daily living; commit to the democratic values of a just and humane society pursuing dignity, prosperity, equality, love, justice, peace and freedom for all; ensure a vibrant diversified economy, work to provide full employment opportunities, and protect their posterity.

It is possible to assert that the TCI remains ‘God-fearing’ in certain respects but there is “a falling away” and many are deceived into their own wisdom. With this departure from certain fundamental truths as enshrined in the Word of God and the Constitution, by extension, behaviours have changed.

A moral conscience and character is removed from the patina and ethos of the new TCI Society. So violence, guns and ‘misbehaviour’ prevail.

several applications in March, with the applicants citing bias against non-natives, unprofessionalism and accusing some members of the Commission’s members of discriminatory conduct.

Justice Gruchot’s written judgement was delivered on July 5, in which he concluded that he did not find the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance is of itself unconstitutional or ultra vires the Constitution.

He stated: “The applications can successfully be processed under the Ordinance.

“Absent any evaluation criteria being prescribed by the Governor, then the Commission’s powers are curtailed, but I am not of the view that the Ordinance fails to provide any conditions under which a person may be granted Islander status.

“The required conditions set out in the Constitution have been imported into the Ordinance.”

In their grounds for review, applicants Agile Levin, Daniel Levin, Hope Levin, Christine Levin, Eric Levin, Christian Papachristou, Isabella Stanbrook, Ivor Stanbrook, Jennifer Blain, Ryan Blain, Graham Canham, Todd Foss and Lawrence Saintange outlined the arbitrariness in the commission’s adoption of criteria; procedural unfairness by the commission in their consideration of the applications; bias, actual or apparent; and the commission’s adaptive use of section 4(7) of the Ordinance.

In the case of Conrad Griffiths Kc, Stephen Bourne, Christopher Griffiths, Cameron Griffiths, Foluso Ladejobi, Neale Coleman, Bernd Wolf, Adam Twigg, Philippe Kunz, David Cadman Kc, Michael Paul Horton, Carmela Giordano, Antoine L’heureux, Patrick Hayward, Kathleen Cecilia Hayward, Simon Nicholls, Rosemary Nicholls, Mary Scholar, Robert Brace, Naomi Brace, Paul Murray and Owen Foley, their grounds for review asked several questions.

Namely: “What decision-making powers does the Commission have under the Ordinance? If decision-

making powers are vested in the Commission what are those powers and are they sufficiently prescribed so as to comply with section 132 of the Constitution?

“If the Ordinance does not comply with the Constitution what declarations and directives are needed to require the Ordinance to be reframed so it complies with the Constitution?

“Did the Commission correctly apply the section 4(7) criteria listed under the Ordinance if they were entitled to adopt those criteria?

“Did the Commission afford any of the Applicants a ‘fair hearing’?

“In any matter did the Commission give reasons sufficient to meet the test laid down by case law?

“Was the Commission affected by bias on the part of Mr. Benson Harvey, the chairperson, and Mr. Oswald Skippings? If yes, then what remedy arises?”

The respondents in the matter are the members of the Status Commission, namely: Herbert Been, Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, Algernon Dean, Dozzlie Delancy, Benson Harvey and Oswald Skippings.

The judge has disagreed with King’s Counsel Ivan Hare –who appeared on behalf of the respondents – who suggested during his arguments that the judicial reviews are an attempt to appeal the decisions of the commission.

Gruchot stated: “I do not agree. This Court does not have the power to grant Islander status which would be the result of a successful appeal.

“The applications are to be referred back to the Commission for reconsideration.”

Gruchot further stated: “In my judgement the Commission fell into error. Having recognised that there were no ‘prescribed factors’ to which the Commission was to have regard, it was not open

to the Commission to decide to apply unprescribed factors of its choosing.

“Further, in adopting the section 4(7) criteria, the Commission was usurping the power of the Governor.

“As Mr Griffiths KC and Mr Cadman KC submit, ‘There is no evidence that the Commission asked the Governor for guidance or to publish evaluation criteria.’

“The Commission effectively took on the role of the Governor. I am fortified in that view by the wording of the Rejection Letters which state: “We regret to inform you that your application for Turks and Caicos Islander Status has been refused having had regard to subsection 4(7) [x] of the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance.”

He said the rejection letters say that the Commission has refused the application(s).

“That is not the function of the Commission,” the judge emphasised.

He added: “The power vested in the Commission is to review the applications and decide whether to recommend the application to the Governor. It is only the Governor who may refuse an application.

“Whilst the practical effect may be the same thing, that is, the application is at an end, the wording indicates that the Commission took on the role of the Governor.

“The Commission refused the applications using the criteria reserved to the Governor thereby usurping the power of the Governor.”

The applications for Islander status were submitted from September 3, 2016, to October 23, 2021.

On the issue of bias, the judge stated that while he found the process to be biassed – an allegation the members of the commission

Justice Anthony Gruchot

FortisTCI boosts power generation capacity amidst soaring energy demands

BY OLIVIA ROSE

FortisTCI, the leading electricity provider in the Turks and Caicos Islands, has successfully installed a new dual-fuel Wärtsilä generating unit at its Providenciales power plant.

This cutting-edge unit, capable of producing electricity using lower-carbon natural gas, marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing efforts to meet the escalating energy demands of the rapidly growing Turks and Caicos economy.

The recent energy investment aligns seamlessly with the Resilient National Energy Transition Strategy (R-NETS) approved by the Turks and Caicos Islands government.

Members of the local media were invited to tour the power plant on Thursday, July 11, 2024 following a media breakfast and briefing at FortisTCI’s headquarters on Leeward Highway, Providenciales.

According to FortisTCI, the unit injects an additional 9.373 megawatts of electricity generating capacity into Providenciales and extends its reach to the North and Middle Caicos grid through a subsea cable.

This substantial boost in capacity empowers FortisTCI to continue delivering reliable, costeffective electricity around the clock, a critical factor in sustaining the islands’ economic momentum.

“The Turks and Caicos

economy is experiencing unprecedented growth, and it is essential that the electricity system keeps pace,” emphasised Ruth Forbes, President and CEO of FortisTCI. “Expanding our generation capacity requires a delicate balance of critical factors, including sustainability, least-cost energy, resiliency, and reliability.

A reliable electricity supply provides TCI with a competitive advantage and gives customers the power they need when needed.”

In a recent statement, the company said its commitment to a sustainable energy future extends

beyond fossil fuels. The company is aggressively expanding its solar energy investments, with 2.6 megawatts of solar energy currently on the grid.

Ambitious plans are in place to add another 6.8 megawatts of solar energy over the next five years through a combination of rooftop installations and microgrids equipped with battery energy storage.

This year, a 1.2-megawatt solar plus battery microgrid will be commissioned in North Caicos, poised to supply 30% of the Twin Islands’ energy demand.

Additionally, groundwork is underway for a 200-kWdc solar plus battery microgrid on Salt Cay, projected to fulfil 91% of the island’s energy needs upon completion in 2025.

To guide its strategic investments and achieve a balanced energy mix, FortisTCI has undertaken comprehensive studies.

A wind study conducted on North Caicos affirmed the viability of wind as an energy source, while a gas-to-power study completed in 2023 confirmed the feasibility of utilising natural gas as a lowercarbon fuel on Providenciales.

Solar plus battery microgrid studies have informed ongoing microgrid projects on Salt Cay and North Caicos, taking into account land availability, energy demand, infrastructure, and other pivotal factors. A recently concluded solar PV land availability study further identifies suitable areas for groundmounted solar PV installations across the islands.

FortisTCI said its unwavering dedication to reliability has earned it a reputation as one of the most dependable utilities in the Caribbean.

Over the past three years, the company has maintained an exceptional electricity service availability rate of 99.97%.

This outstanding performance is reflected in the 94% satisfaction rating for reliability awarded by customers in an independent survey conducted last year.

As the Turks and Caicos Islands continue to experience rapid economic growth, FortisTCI stands at the forefront, ensuring a resilient and sustainable energy supply to power the islands’ progress, FortisTCI’s President and CEO said.

With a strategic blend of traditional and renewable energy sources, backed by meticulous planning and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction, the company is charting a course toward a brighter and more sustainable energy future for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

FortisTCI executives, board of directors and members of the project team tour the company’s latest generation expansion project at the Providenciales plant (Photo: FortisTCI)

FortisTCI executives, board of directors and members of the project team outside the building that houses the company’s generation unit

Three suspects arrested in Grand Turk with gun, ammo and drugs – two others grabbed while sleeping in Dock Yard

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is currently conducting an expansive and country-wide campaign called ‘Operation MIGHT’

These anti-crime operations across the Turks and Caicos Islands have so far resulted in the arrest of three persons, along with the seizure of four firearms, an assortment of ammunition and a quantity of drugs.

Additionally, Mervin Joseph –who has evaded police for more than a year - was snatched up while asleep in a Dock Yard house.

Joseph has been wanted in connection with several murders since February 2023.

Police said the suspects were arrested within 24 hours as Operation MIGHT took effect.

“Operation MIGHT focuses on

deterring criminal activities and harnesses the Royal TCI Police Force’s total resources to disrupt criminals, thereby ensuring the safety and security of all communities within the TCI,” Commissioner of Police Edvin Martin said.

Shortly after 4:40 am on Tuesday, July 9, a search warrant was executed at the Back Salina, Grand Turk residence of a 30-yearold man.

Police reported that during the search, some of the items officers found were a firearm with an extended magazine, a quantity of ammunition, and cannabis.

The occupant of the home was arrested and remains in police custody.

In a separate operation conducted on the morning of Monday, July 8, two men wanted by the police,

Police seize fifth illegal firearm in 72 hours during ‘Operation MIGHT’

BY OLIVIA ROSE

In a dramatic raid on a Blue Hills residence Tuesday afternoon, Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force officers detained one man and recovered a firearm, magazine, and nine rounds of ammunition.

According to a statement from the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force at approximately 2pm on Tuesday, July 9th, 2024, officers of the RTCIPF, acting on information swooped down on a Blue Hills home as part of its new operation to root out crime across the TCI.

The Weekly News understands that the Blue Hills raid saw several suspects fleeing the scene, but officers managed to successfully apprehend a 42-year-old male resident. He now faces charges of firearm and ammunition possession.

This marks the fifth illegal firearm seized in just 72 hours as part of Operation MIGHT,

an intensive police initiative aimed at curbing criminal activity and enhancing community safety.

The operation, launched recently by the RTCIPF, has focused on deterring crime through high-visibility patrols and targeted raids.

“During a search of a bag recovered, officers discovered a firearm, along with one magazine and nine rounds of ammunition,” the police stated.

Operation MIGHT underscores the RTCIPF’s commitment to disrupting criminal networks and removing illegal firearms from the streets.

The police force has expressed gratitude for the public’s cooperation and continues to urge anyone with information on illegal activities to come forward. Tips can be reported to the nearest police station, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, or by dialling 911.

ages 25 and 37, were arrested in Dock Yard, Providenciales.

One of the suspects (Joseph) has been on the run for the past eight months and is wanted for several murders, robberies and firearmrelated offences, police-related.

Both suspects were arrested around 4:30am after several officers executed a search warrant for firearms and ammunition.

On arrival at the location in Dock Yard, officers entered a dwelling home where the two suspects were asleep.

When the officers searched the premises two pistols, one shotgun, an assortment of ammunition and a quantity of drugs were found.

The illegal items were seized, and the men were arrested.

Following the arrests, Commissioner Martin expressed

gratitude to the public and police for their assistance in retrieving the illegal firearms.

He stated: “The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of our community. The discovery and seizure of these illegal items highlight our commitment to tackling crime and protecting the TCI.

“We appreciate the cooperation of the community in these efforts. The ease with which firearms enter the country is frightening, and more needs to be done to eliminate lawbreakers and those intending to harm.

“Operation MIGHT will continue as the RTCIPF remains relentless in flushing out criminal elements and ensuring they do not feel at ease.”

Commissioner Martin also issued a warning to individuals harbouring criminals: “I urge the community to stop shielding those causing havoc.

“Officers will be enforcing the laws, especially the Anti-Gang Ordinance, which addresses the concealment of gang members.”

He said the law states a person convicted can spend more than ten years in jail if found to be harbouring gangsters.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activities to the police and to remain vigilant.”

Anyone with information on illegal activities or knowledge of illegal firearms is asked to contact the nearest Police Station, Crime Stoppers on 1-800-8477 or 911, or on the Crime Stoppers P3 app and provide information.

Five Cays man shot and killed at his home

Police are investigating the murder of a male resident of Five Cays who was shot and killed while at his home.

Reports are that the incident occurred shortly after 7pm last

Sunday, July 7.

Police said the 38-year-old victim was at his home located along the Five Cays Road when a lone gunman approached and shot him.

Dumpsite worker escapes injury

An employee at the Dumpsite located along Millennium Highway in Blue Hills has escaped injury after a man opened fire on him when he enquired about items he was unloading at the location.

Police said they received several calls from residents in the area sometime around 10pm on Friday, July 5, of shots being fired at the TCI Disposal and Solid Waste facility.

Officers and medical personnel promptly responded, and based on preliminary investigations, a truck transporting a male occupant entered the dumpsite and started offloading items.

Police said an employee at the dump site confronted the occupant but was shot at. The employee managed to escape uninjured.

Police are actively investigating the circumstances which led to the

shooting.

They are calling on the public to notify the closest police station, contact 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 or Crime Stoppers P3 app and anonymously give any information on illegal activity.

Police officers and emergency services were promptly dispatched to the scene, and the victim was rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre for treatment.

However, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after 8pm.

Police have withheld the identity of the deceased.

Residents of Five Cays and surrounding areas are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or information about the incident to the Royal TCI Police Force

Police are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact the closest police station, 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, Crime Stoppers 1-8008477 or on the Crime Stoppers P3 app to provide any information anonymously.

Blueprint for marriage

At a time when there are more resources imaginable – books, seminars, podcasts, gurus and experts, etc. – for helping couples experience a thriving marriage, marriages are suffering the most. It probably is because the amount of resources available does not represent its quality.

On the other hand, some of the best marriage advice comes from one of the oldest set of books around, the Bible. Look at what Paul says to a group of Christians living in a city called Colossae, which is located in modern-day Turkey: Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. (Colossians 3:18-19).

While this does not sum up what the Bible says about healthy marriages, it is very relevant.

These verses cover the various roles and responsibilities in marriage. However, they are not suggestions but divine instructions that outline a framework for marital harmony, one that emphasises mutual respect and love.

Paul begins by addressing wives, instructing them to submit to their husbands “as is fitting in the Lord”. This idea of a wife submitting to her husband often meets resistance, mainly due to

KENYATTA E. LEWIS

a societal misunderstanding of submission that implies inferiority or subservience. However, the meaning behind the word used here refers to a voluntary act of placing oneself under another’s leadership, signifying respect rather than subjugation. In the context of marriage, this means a wife chooses to support and respect her husband’s leadership, not out of societal pressure but out of obedience to God.

There are three key aspects to a wife’s submission:

1. It is prompted by Love: A wife’s submission is encouraged by her husband’s unselfish love.

2. It is a voluntary act: Submission should be a willing choice, not coerced.

3. It is fitting in the Lord: Such submission is proper and reflects Christ’s lordship in their lives.

Submission in marriage is often misrepresented by dangerous and failed contemporary perspectives

as detrimental, but within Christian teaching, it mirrors Christ’s relationship with the Church. It is a heart matter where a wife cannot fully submit to God without also submitting to her husband. This does not imply blind obedience but a conscious, voluntary, and respectful partnership. Often neglected but equally important is Paul’s word in Ephesians 5:21, which calls everyone to submit “to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Imagine a marriage where both the husband and the wife are loving and submitting to each other out of their devotion and worship of Jesus Christ.

In verse 19, Paul then turns to husbands, commanding them to “love your wives and do not be harsh with them.”; Unlike his more detailed instruction in Ephesians 5, Paul keeps it succinct in Colossians, emphasising two primary duties for husbands:

1. Love Your Wives: Here, Paul uses the term “agape”; which denotes selfless, caring love focused on the well-being of the wife. This love transcends romantic or affectionate feelings, embodying a deliberate, sacrificial concern for the wife’s best interests.

2. Do Not Be Harsh: Husbands are warned against exhibiting a bitter or irritable attitude towards their wives. This entails maintaining a kind, courteous demeanour and avoiding any form of discourteous or harsh behaviour.

In the cultural context of Paul’s time, where women were often seen as possessions rather than partners, these instructions were revolutionary. Paul calls for a balance where husbands exercise their authority with love and respect, and wives respond with supportive submission. This mutual respect and love create a harmonious and God-honouring

marriage.

For couples today, especially those who follow Jesus as Lord, these biblical principles remain relevant. Husbands should lead with Christ-like love and patience, making it easier for their wives to follow with respect and support. This dynamic fosters a healthy, balanced relationship reflecting God’s design and witnessing to a world steeped in a moral malaise.

Marriage is not without its challenges, and Paul’s teachings remind us of the importance of repentance and continuous improvement. Couples are encouraged to reflect on their actions, seek forgiveness for past mistakes, and implement strategies to safeguard their marriage. Whether you are married or planning to get married, adhering to these divine instructions can help ensure a strong, fulfilling marital relationship.

Ultimately, honouring God’s code in marriage means embracing the roles and responsibilities He has outlined, fostering a relationship built on love, respect, and mutual submission. This divine blueprint not only strengthens marital bonds but also glorifies God through a harmonious and loving partnership. Love and respect your spouse today.

Stop judging people by your standards

Better yet, don’t judge people at all

INTRODUCTION

Too many times we judge people, and we judge them by our standards or the standards that have been set by society. The appropriate thing is that we should not judge people. Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

STOP JUDGING

PEOPLE BY YOUR OWN STANDARDS

It is easy to judge people by what we see or by what we hear and of course by the standards that we set. A lot of times judgements are based on assumptions. We assume we know what people are thinking and many times it is because that is the way we think.

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.

We judge people by the type of car they drive, by the house they have, by the area they live in, by the type of job they have, by the amount of money or lack of money they have, by the way you dress and by the family they come from. We do not know what people have or do not have and even if we do know, it is wrong to judge people.

Some people think little of themselves and they also judge

others the same way. Likewise, some people think very highly of themselves and judge others the same way to the point where they do not want to associate themselves with people who they judge to be less than them.

Some people think that you are jealous of them when in fact, they themselves have a jealous spirit. However, because they are jealous, they also think you are jealous.

We even judge people politically. For instance, if you are from a certain area where most people voted one way politically, people will think that you too are affiliated with that party. If your parents voted one way, they assumed you voted the same way. Also, some people are so one-sided politically, they cannot comprehend or appreciate that other people can be objective and politically mature.

When some people do things, they have an ulterior motive and so other people are judged on that same basis that they too have an ulterior motive when they do things for their country and for other people.

Many of us also measure success by the amount of money or possessions one has and as a result, we judge the success of

others by the amount of money they have. As I mentioned in a previous article, success should be measured by the attainment of your goals.

CONCLUSION

One of the reasons why I love the Bible so much is that it has answers for everything and all situations. The Bible clearly tells us not to judge others, or you will be judged and likewise, the measurement you use to judge others will also be used to judge you. Therefore, let us use the Bible as our guide and stop judging people. If you continue to judge people, you may end up making the wrong decisions simply because you judge someone. You may also miss a golden opportunity with someone because you misjudged them.

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.

Road Etiquette: Unwritten rules that all drivers should know

Mankind, throughout history, and though not all of them, navigates congested spaces by adhering to common sense conventions based on social etiquette. However, driving around on the crowded streets in Providenciales – it seems – most drivers lack civility.

As humans – and although difficult – it is; however, possible to coexist on congested roads, where ‘eye-contact’ and human interaction replaces traffic rules and signs.

Overtime, and considering human nature at its worst, competitiveness and individualism transcend drivers’ conduct and they in turn develop bad road habits, which are unpleasant and sometimes dangerous to other road users.

But there are some conventions, which form good road driving etiquette not enforced by law and, which depict affinity for one another.

BY D MARKIE SPRING

D Markie Spring, a TCI resident of 15 years, is an expert in law enforcement. He worked as a detective in the Royal TCI Police Force and was director of security at Beaches Turks and Caicos.

Considering the traffic jam on Blue Hills for example and the idea that there is only one road in and out, I am appealing to drivers to show some empathy and, when there are other drivers at junctions trying – but failing – to enter a major road, let them out!

After all, you could be saving a life; it could be an elderly or child rushing to the hospital; a mother in labour ready to birth a life and; therefore, your action could determine life or death!

Moreover, it could be a parent taking their children to school, or

an employee driving to work in a location farther than your workplace; perhaps, it’s someone trying to get to the airport and so, refusing to demonstrate road etiquette could inhibit drivers risking their lives –and others – trying to enter through a narrow traffic gap.

In fact, the lack of courtesy is impelling unruly drivers to unlawfully drive on the curb, passing everyone, because no one will let them out!

Besides these setbacks, the police should know that there is an uncontrollable bottleneck at Blue

Hills roundabout every night, where drivers ignore the rules, drive into the island and block traffic from all directions.

And what makes this gridlock even worse are the disorderly drivers, who are transforming the turning lane in Downtown into an eastbound second lane, surpassing all complying drivers, dangerously entering the roundabout, and disrupting traffic.

Conversely, motorists are urged to drive with caution on flooded roads, as driving swiftly through water and splashing muddy water onto other vehicles temporarily obscures drivers’ views, and could result in accidents.

Watching these road events playing out on roads in Providenciales, I am keenly persuaded by American syndicated columnist, Judith Martin’s “A Philosophy of Etiquette.”

In it, she describes the governance of social conduct,

which developed from classical antiquity, when Socrates asked how one should live! Despite the Far Eastern philosophical precept championed by Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, etiquette and morality are one; however, twentieth-century scholars tactfully put it as ‘innocent of manners.’

And when modern intellectuals referenced ‘etiquette;’ however, they do so jovially supposing that everyone concedes that etiquette is – to some extent – superficial, and at least, draconian.

Henceforth, we are to believe – according to the Jean-Jacques Rousseau School of Etiquette, which amiably purports that humans should all behave like ‘moral’ brutes.

But despite this, we must consider each other. Stop and allow the drivers to join the traffic. After all, do to others what you’ll want them do for you, if you were in a ‘jam!’

Is flirting a learned trait?

I’ve spent the last few days asking around, but the answer remains as clear as mud. So, I’ll end this debate once and for all. But first, what is flirting anyway? And how do you know it’s flirty?

Flirting involves behaving as if you’re sexually attracted to someone but in a playful, nottoo-serious way. It’s a crucial distinction because flirting should be innocent and harmless. It does not need to lead to a coitus relationship.

So how do you know it’s flirting? It’s more than just a lingering gaze, a bat of the eyelashes, or a flick of the hair. True flirting radiates warmth and interest, with just a hint of sexual desire. Don’t confuse flirting with being nice, though. In today’s world, that mix-up could land you in hot water!

MIRROR PRACTICE:

Share your opinion here louisedens@gmail.com or @ daviid.l2 OCTOPEN

We’ve all stood in front of the mirror practicing our best flirty

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

look, trying to perfect that wink without looking like we have something in our eye. It takes practice to get that smooth move just right.

DO: Keep on perfecting that wink. DONT: wink more than 3 times. It’s just creepy.

ROM-COM LESSONS:

Watching romantic comedies has taught us more about flirting than any school class ever could.

DO: Learn from Will Smith. DONT: Rely on Austin Powers for any flirting tips.

AWKWARD BEGINNINGS:

Remember your first attempt at flirting? The nervous giggles, the stumbling over words, and that moment you wished the ground would swallow you whole? We all start somewhere, and it’s usually pretty awkward.

DO: Flirt at least once a day.

DONT: Flirt with your mother’s friends.

TEXTBOOK PICKUP LINES:

If flirting wasn’t learned, why do we all know cheesy pickup lines

like “Do you have a map? Because I keep getting lost in your eyes”?

They’re like the ABCs of flirting, passed down through the ages.

DO: Learn some pick-up-lines. DONT: Practice them on your cat.

FRIENDSHIP ADVICE:

We’ve all sought advice from friends on how to approach our crushes. It’s like a rite of passage to have your best friend coach you through sending that perfect text. But please take a stand on your friend’s romantic success before seeking their help. Do you want to learn from the worse individual ever?

DO: Find the flirting style that works for you. DONT: Try too hard.

TRIAL AND ERROR:

Flirting is basically scientific. It involves a lot of trial and error. Mostly error, like when you accidentally blurt out something embarrassing and wish for an

instant rewind button. Yep, you just muddle your sentence in front of your hottie.

DO: Take time to learn what works. DONT: Be too hard on yourself when it doesn’t go accordingly

FLIRTING GENES:

If flirting was genetic, why do our parents’ cringe flirtations make us want to hide? Clearly, it’s something we learn and refine, rather than inherit.

DO: Allow yourself to evolve. DONT: Pick up your dad’s flirting techniques

Flirting is absolutely a learned trait. After all, nobody is born knowing how to make awkward small talk or deliver perfect oneliners!

CARE TO SHARE?

TCIAA denies corruption in HHIA redevelopment project

– Board says former airport director was never involved in the project

BY DELANA ISLES

The Board of Directors of the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) has strongly condemned social media claims that the Howard Hamilton International Airport (HHIA) redevelopment project is mired in corruption.

The board stated that the proper and ethical procedures are being followed in the shortlisting of one of the five pre-qualified applicants for the HHIA redevelopment project – which is being conducted as a public private partnership.

The social media post – which is no longer available to the public – had made claims of impropriety in the selection process, as well as conflicts in the project.

TCIAA in a statement on Tuesday, July 9, stated: “We wish to

clarify that these claims are based on several factual inaccuracies.

“The TCIAA is unaware of any conflicts in the project that suggest impropriety in the process of selecting a preferred partner for the

redevelopment of HHIA.

“The circular [social media post] fails to understand the process and procedures that ensure the project’s integrity.”

The Board further stated that

the project is being conducted under the strict supervision of the Procurement Board, adhering to rigorous ethical standards.

The TCIAA’s former CEO and Director, John Smith and former CFO Kenneth Abrams are currently before the court on corruption charges while they were still employed at TCIAA. Allegations that span several years, between 2013 and 2022.

The two, along with a local businessman, are accused of being involved in a conspiracy to award contracts in connection with the airports in Providenciales, Grand Turk, as well as North and South Caicos.

In its statement this week refuting allegations of corruption currently going on at the Airport Authority, the board sought to clarify further allegations made against a former high-level staff (unnamed) in the social media post.

They stated: “The TCIAA also strongly refutes claims that a former director stands to advantage any pre-qualified applicant due to his past role.

“This individual, during his tenure, demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and transparency.

“Upon his departure, he possessed no confidential knowledge about the project beyond what was publicly available. He had no involvement in preparing the Invitation to Tender and no access to any confidential material related to it.”

They went on to defend the character of the current CEO and Director, Godfrey Smith.

“Moreover, we find it highly reprehensible that the current CEO’s nationality is being used to imply impropriety.

“The CEO, a Turks and Caicos Islander, is not responsible for

selecting a preferred partner for the project and at all times, has been resourceful in updating the Board about the project’s progress, and astute in raising any matters of concern which the Board from time to time has had to address.”

TCIAA stated that the project is overseen by an external committee, an internal project team, and is supervised by the Procurement Board.

They added: “To this end, the CEO continues to be open and transparent with the Board, not only about this project but in all matters concerning the TCIAA as part of an ongoing process to shift the administrative and operational cultural paradigm of the organisation.”

Meanwhile, as it relates to the claims of impropriety in the social media post, the Airport Authority noted that the consultant mentioned did not design the project’s financial model.

They said they have been consistently transparent about its advisors: ALG Infrastructure Global, a renowned infrastructure firm headquartered in Spain, contracted in May 2022.

ALG is assisted by the international law firm Gide, based in Paris, and local attorneys Wilson and Wells.

“The consultant named in the circular is not connected to any of these entities,” the board affirmed.

They further stated: “The TCIAA condemns the circular as a socio-political attempt to undermine the merits and integrity of the HHIA redevelopment project. Such reckless and malicious claims disregard the implications for individuals with respected careers and damage the international reputation of the

environment.

Turks and Caicos Islands as a viable business

The Howard Hamilton International Airport, Providenciales

National Physical Development Plan reopens due to influx of public requests

BY OLIVIA ROSE

In a significant shift towards sustainable and inclusive urban planning, the Turks and Caicos Islands government (TCIG) has announced a major overhaul of the National Physical Development Plan (NPDP) following an unprecedented influx of public requests for modifications.

The Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development is opening up the NPDP, which signals a shift in the country’s approach to urban planning, with a renewed emphasis on public consultation and addressing long-standing issues like informal settlements.

At a press conference held on July 9, 2024, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development Hon Jamell Robinson emphasised the need

for transparency and public participation in this process.

“We saw it fit, given the amount of requests, that we open up the process so we can see what other amendments might be needed,” he stated.

The NPDP, a comprehensive document guiding the country’s physical development, was last updated in 2020. However, the influx of requests for modifications, coupled with the government’s commitment to inclusive decisionmaking, has prompted this revisitation.

Director of Planning, Toriano Williams highlighted the NPDP’s crucial role in shaping the country’s future. “It’s important that people understand that the National Physical Development Plan is a tool that shapes really, when and how development takes place,” he said.

Williams also stressed the importance of balancing human development with environmental sustainability in the planning process.

Assistant Director of Planning Leonardo Glasgow echoed these sentiments, urging all residents to get involved, regardless of land ownership. “Whether you have ownership of land or not, you may be affected by a change in zoning to an area you live in, or live directly next to,” he warned.

The issue of informal settlements, a persistent challenge in the Turks and Caicos Islands, was a key topic of discussion.

When asked by the Weekly News how the Ministry plans to deal with informal settlements during this zoning process, Minister Robinson acknowledged the complexities surrounding these settlements, often characterised

CONTRIBUTORS NEEDED

by unplanned construction and inadequate infrastructure.

He said: “It is a good question because at the end of the day our designations will be law, so some of the informal settlements …beyond not having planning permission, because of the way they were built beyond the normal high density in some instances, they’re literally outside of planning permissions, outside of designation, they’re just kinda all over the place which is why the Informal Settlement Unit was set up to bring all of that into hand with regularisation and or demolition.

He continued: “They will be treated in line with the National Physical Development Plan, so anything that’s outside of that will still be outside of that”, he said.

Director Williams outlined the government’s approach to improving informal settlements, focusing on collaboration and infrastructure development.

“One of our key goals and responsibilities is to ensure that any area, including informal settlements, will have the proper elements to ensure that that subdivision functions properly,” he said.

This includes improving road access, lighting, and waste management in these areas as well as demolishing illegal structures.

Assistant Director Glasgow provided an update on ongoing efforts, highlighting partnerships with private landowners to address unauthorised settlements. “After that partnership is established, then we’ll get our enforcement notice granted to us, and then we’ll be

able to issue enforcement notice on all the occupants and the owner,” he explained. The government’s commitment to transparency and public engagement in the NPDP modification process marks a significant step towards inclusive urban planning in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

By opening the plan for public review and actively soliciting feedback, the government aims to create a development roadmap that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of its citizens.

However, the challenge lies in effectively balancing these diverse needs with environmental sustainability and addressing challenging issues like informal settlements.

A draft proposal is available for public review at the Planning Department in Grand Turk and Providenciales.

It is also available at all District Commissioners offices (North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos, Salt Cay), Public Libraries, Post Offices, the National Trust offices and the Department of Environmental and Coastal Resources offices.

The public is invited and encouraged to review the proposal and to provide feedback at planningconsultation@gov.tc, or in writing at our Grand Turk or Providenciales offices.

The plan will be used for the next 10 years and is intended to be a master land use zoning planning tool intended to guide and direct future physical, social and environmental development in the Islands.

Minister of PPID, Hon Jamell Robinson

Assistant Director of Planning Leonardo Glasgow, Director of Planning, Toriano Williams and Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development Hon Jamell Robinson at a recent press conference (Photos: Olivia Rose)

Airside Walkway Canopy at HHIA on track for August completion

Construction of the Airside Walkway Canopy at Howard Hamilton International Airport is progressing smoothly and is on schedule for completion by August 13, 2024.

According to the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA), the project which commenced on May 15, 2024, is being spearheaded by Facilities Manager Kirkley Williams and a team of 10 skilled workers.

“We are committed to creating a more efficient and comfortable airport experience for our passengers,” Williams said. “The Airside Walkway Canopy reflects our mission to enhancing our facilities and services.”

Key features of the walkway canopy include isolated concrete columns and beams, interior block and concrete walls, and a timber roof structure covered with plywood, peel and seal membrane, and metal standing

seam.

A statement from the TCIAA on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 said the primary objective of the project is to facilitate quicker aircraft turnaround times, significantly enhancing operational efficiency at the airport.

Additionally, the new walkway will provide a more comfortable environment for passengers. Despite the challenges faced during construction, such as working during ongoing airport operations and night shifts, the team has successfully maintained progress without compromising safety or quality. The project also incorporates sustainable and eco-friendly features, aligning with TCIAA’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

The completion of the Airside Walkway Canopy is envisioned to have a positive impact on both passengers and airport operations.

(Olivia Rose)

Works on the Airside canopy will see concrete columns and beams, block and concrete walls, timber roof structure with metal standing seam

FortisTCI defends proposed hike amidst economic growth and rising costs

BY OLIVIA ROSE

FortisTCI, the main electricity provider in the Turks and Caicos Islands, is defending its proposed 6% rate increase, citing the need to meet the demands of a booming economy and escalating costs.

In a high-stakes battle over electricity rates, FortisTCI, the main power provider in the Turks and Caicos Islands, is locked in a standoff with the government over a proposed 6% rate increase, which would amount to an additional $2 to $15 per month for most residential customers if approved.

The company is currently awaiting the Governor’s appointment of an independent inquirer to review the reasonableness of its proposal.

It argues that the increase is essential to meet the demands of a booming economy and escalating costs, while the Governor has denied the request, demanding a more transparent and competitive rate structure.

During a media session on Thursday, July 11, President and CEO of FortisTCI, Ruth Gardiner Forbes, emphasised the necessity of the rate hike, stating that the company has absorbed costs in the past but the current situation necessitates the proposed adjustment.

She acknowledged the difficulty of requesting rate adjustments, stating, “This is one of the most difficult things that we have to do, is go to our customers and ask for an increase every year.”

Forbes highlighted that FortisTCI has absorbed costs in the past, opting to delay rate increases even when warranted.

However, she asserted that the current situation necessitates the proposed adjustment. “This rate increase is necessary,” Forbes stated. “We have to make the application because amidst all this growth, we’ve had to make a lot of investments to keep up with the growth.”

The CEO outlined several factors contributing to the need for increased rates, including cybersecurity risks, wildfire risks, supply chain challenges, and evolving regulatory requirements.

She stressed the importance of maintaining reliable service, stating, “I don’t ever want to see TCI having a headline that says we are experiencing blackouts.”

Forbes also addressed concerns about FortisTCI’s rate of return, clarifying that the company does not receive a guaranteed 17.5% return. While this rate is allowable

The complexities of FortisTCI’s challenges were further illustrated by the Director of Energy Production, Alvejes Desir, who

explained the impact of the depth of the water at the port on fuel supply costs. The limited depth restricts the size of ships that can Two

An employee of a local air conditioning company this week tragically lost his life while on the job in South Caicos, while an unconscious man who was fished out of waters in Providenciales was confirmed dead.

News of the South Caicos accident which led to the death of a 47-year-old Indian national (name withheld) was shared on

the morning of Monday, June 8, shortly after the incident occurred, and later confirmed by police.

Reports – since confirmed –are that sometime around 10am the man was on the fourth storey of a resort in South Caicos fixing an air conditioning unit when he slipped and fell off of the ladder he was on.

The man was taken to

deliver fuel, leading to increased transportation costs.

Despite these challenges, FortisTCI has made significant investments in renewable energy sources, aligning with the Resilient National Energy Transition Strategy (R-NETS) approved by the Turks and Caicos Islands government. The company recently installed a new dual-fuel generating unit capable of using natural gas, a lower-carbon energy source.

Additionally, FortisTCI is expanding its solar energy investments. The company currently has 2.6 megawatts of solar energy on the grid and plans to add another 6.8 megawatts over the next five years through rooftop installations and microgrids with battery energy storage.

Following the company’s proposal earlier this year, the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, HE Dileeni DanielSelvaratnam, denied FortisTCI’s initial rate increase request, citing the need for a fair and competitive rate structure.

The Governor expressed her commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the rate review process.

The company has requested the appointment of an independent inquirer to review the reasonableness of its application, a process that was also followed in a previous rate dispute in 2017.

The outcome of the inquiry will have significant implications for both FortisTCI and its customers.

As the company navigates the challenges of meeting rising energy demand and managing costs, the need for a sustainable and equitable solution remains paramount.

the South Caicos Clinic but succumbed to his injuries at about 11:47am.

Police later confirmed that the second incident occurred shortly after noon.

Cops were called to a resort along the Lower Bight Road in Providenciales, and upon arrival they observed a man lying on his back on the beach, surrounded by a group of people performing

chest compressions.

Police said the victim had been removed from the water after being discovered floating lifelessly.

The 52-year-old victim was rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Center via ambulance but sadly passed away.

No indication was given if the deceased is a tourist or a resident.

Devon Cox -Senior Vice President of Operations and Assistant Corporate Secretary and Ruth Gardiner Forbes, President and CEO of FortisTCI during a media session (Photos: Olivia Rose)

Attendees included local media operatives and Fortis TCI management officials

A Caribbean hurricane protection matter

The risk of an explosion of hurricane damage claims may quickly bury insurance companies’ profits. It has led to something of an insurance exodus in Florida in the past couple of years. Homeowners in Florida are struggling with skyrocketing home insurance premiums. Several insurers operating in Florida have cut coverage in some of the areas that are most vulnerable to natural disasters or have withdrawn from the state entirely.

It is also high time in the Caribbean to think about what is or maybe happening to be or not to be protected by insurance or otherwise in the future. Returning to what may be considered ‘normal’ is not an option but rather a mediocratic restauration. Hurricane preparedness including having bottled water, batteries, getting any lose items out of the way, etc. is a minimal precaution. What about buildings and construction?

Some buildings remain almost miraculously untouched after a weather disaster. Many others may lose their roofs, windows or doors. Residents, not knowing what to do or what may be next, sit in front of what once was their beloved home.

A serious advisory is needed that focusses on building hurricane resistant structures or reconstruct them to such. It may sound like a building code, but it should not be a government regulation or requirement although it could be encouraged by a government. It should not take away or

CDR BUD SLABBAERT

Commander Bud

is the initiator and chairman of the Caribbean Aviation Meetup conferences.

Throughout his professional activities, he was involved in international aviation promotion, development and management matters in the region and in Europe.

limit anyone’s rights. It is a stern advisory. Yet, it may have implications. And if not initiated or implanted by a government who will?

An independent Caribbean Research and Development Institute for Architecture and Construction should be founded. The Institute should be supported by the Insurance and the Building Industries. The activities of the institute should be carried out in cooperation with reputable international universities such as for instance the Technical University Delft - Netherlands, Technical University Zurich – Switzerland, MIT - USA. No political involvement; an absolutely independent and impartial organization.

Why the insurance industry?

When it comes to big dollars and cents, whose profits suffered the most after the hurricanes?

They should have a vested interest in any practical and realistic solution that reduces risks; after all, believe it or not,

Bud has written numerous articles and columns for international and regional magazines.

As a specialist in strategic communication, he aims to ensure that the essential information is noticed by the senses, sticks in the mind, and affects thinking, behaviour, or activities of an audience.

it is a risk adverse industry. Mind that if major insurance companies withdraw their coverage, as it is the case in Florida, then local insurance brokers have less to insure which may reduce their revenue.

Why the building/construction industry? They should be interested in developing materials and methods that resist any challenging situation. Their financial support and investment should pay off well for them in return.

Why the international universities? That should not need much explanation. They are reputable, and insurance, building/ construction industries will trust them. Any government may lack that kind of credibility.

The institute should independently do its research and development to establish a building code for hurricane stealth and resisting construction. It may even have a wind tunnel available to test structure models in extreme high wind circumstances. In addition, the institute should be the preferred independent

international organization that can certify whether design, construction or materials are appropriate. Therefore, it will have inspectors and adjusters. Again, no government or political involvement.

The insurance industry from its side might determine that that any new commercial building that is not hurricane certified can only be insured at higher premiums, get limited coverage, or in the worst case it may not be considered at all for insurance coverage. The building suppliers could proudly show the certificate or seal of approval on their products. Investors in new projects may also applaud to see a certification.

The mission of the institute is not to police or regulate, but rather be an undertaking to prevent and protect buildings and its owners against hurricane damages of an extraordinary proportion that we have seen recently, and which actually may return at any time in the future. It is not the aim to take authority away from local

governments. Although, it could become a matter of lead, follow, or get out of the way of the institution. The wisest option for all would be to cooperate with this new credible organisation all the way and establishing and accepting a positive standard for all.

The institute will inform general audiences about how to protect their dwellings from hurricane impact. It can do so through publication of documentation, presentations on the media or at locally-organised meetings. There are many benefits that come out of this solution.

But there is more. The lucky island that will be selected as the location of choice, may now have landed an institute of higher learning that is internationally accredited, affiliated and respected. Which means new employment in the non-academic segments of the institution on location. It may mean conferences to be held on the island and an opportunity to develop unique science tourism.

For young people in the region, it may be an option to study in an alternative academic direction that they don’t have to go abroad for. Because it is Caribbean related, it may be an opportunity for them to find well paid employment in the region afterwards or even set up their own specialized business. Current and hurricane damage of the past has proven that it all makes sense. Just food for thought.

Judge says TCI Status Commission ...

did not deny, and neither did their attorney – he said it did not rise to the occasion of quashing the commission, the relief sought on this ground by the applicants.

Gruchot said: “ The allegation of bias by these individuals is not denied by Mr Been.

“Indeed, his evidence… acknowledges the strong personal beliefs of Mr Harvey and Mr Skippings.

“Mr Hare KC also does not seek to suggest that Mr Harvey and Mr Skippings are not biassed, but puts it as follows:

‘The fact that a member of the Commission has expressed strong views on the matter in public is not generally sufficient to give rise to a reasonable suspicion of bias. The crucial

question is not pre-disposition, but predetermination. This is especially true where, as here, it is clear that the Commission is required to be composed in part by those nominated by a political party and hence likely to have and to have expressed views on matters of political controversy’.

“Mr Prudhoe, Mr Griffiths KC and Mr Cadman KC submit that in particular, the comments made by Mr Skippings following the issue of these proceedings elevate any apparent bias to actual bias.

“I am not persuaded by Mr Hare KC’s argument, simply because members are appointed by the leaders of the political parties does not mean that they must nominate persons who have strong political views.

“In my judgement, it is an

unavoidable conclusion that a fair-minded and informed observer would consider that the comments made give rise to an indication of bias.”

The test for apparent bias is made out, the judge stated.

On the issue of arbitrariness, Gruchot noted that it is clear that the Commission has adopted an arbitrary approach to considering these applications, particularly with respect to exceptional skills.

“Mr Been explains how the Commission favoured teachers, particularly physics teachers, because there was a shortage.

“The corollary of this is that at any given time the Commission may consider that you may or may not have exceptional skills.

“The consideration of such matters as community service, volunteerism, or assimilation into

the community was undertaken by the Commission outside of its own stated authority and applied arbitrarily to certain applicants.

“Sub-section (e) of section 4(7) has been relied upon most frequently by the Commission.

“I find it difficult to understand how granting Islander status to these applicants would affect the economic situation in the Islands and protect persons already engaged in similar occupations.

“All of these applicants permanently reside and are employed/working in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The grant of Islander status does not change that situation and the grant of Islander status will not be taking any job away from a native Turks and Caicos Islander.”

DISPOSITION

In his disposition of the matter, Justice Gruchot granted the applicants’ application for an order of certiorari, and that the Commission’s decisions in respect of each of the 35 applicants to refuse a grant of Turks and Caicos Islander status are quashed.

He also granted their applications for an order of mandamus, ordering that the applications of each of the 35 applicants are to be remitted to the Commission for reconsideration. However, he did dismiss the application by Agile Levin, Daniel Levin, Hope Levin, Jennifer Blain, Ryan Blain, Graham Canham, Todd Foss and Lawrence Saintange for an order of certiorari quashing the appointment of the members of the Commission.

Slabbaert from Sint Maarten

Govt taps energy experts to fasttrack renewable energy transition

BY OLIVIA ROSE

In a major stride towards a sustainable energy future, the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands has enlisted the expertise of independent consultants Power Advisory LLC.

This strategic partnership, announced on July 8th, 2024, is set to expedite the enactment of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Renewable Energy and Resource Planning Bill (RE Bill), a landmark legislation poised to reshape the archipelago’s energy landscape.

TCIG’s collaboration with Power Advisory LLC, a distinguished management consulting firm specialising in the electricity sector, aims to propel the enactment of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Renewable Energy and Resource Planning Bill (RE Bill).

“We are very pleased to have partnered with Power Advisory,” affirmed Commissioner Delano Arthur, who heads the Energy and Utilities Department spearheading the initiative.

He said: “Their team brings extensive experience and expertise to the table, and their support will be instrumental in ensuring the final RE Bill considers and is reflective of the perspectives of all key stakeholders in the energy sector here in TCI.”

Power Advisory LLC, renowned for its proficiency in energy market analysis, strategy, power procurement, policy development, and regulatory support, will play a pivotal role in facilitating a comprehensive two-month consultation programme.

This initiative will engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including residents, the national electricity utility, independent power producers, and other relevant parties.

The collaborative effort seeks to ensure that the RE Bill is not only robust and effective but also resonates with the needs and aspirations of the Turks and Caicos community, according to the Government.

The RE Bill, currently in the consultation phase, is poised to provide a structured framework for renewable energy systems within the Islands.

This includes provisions for licensing and interconnection of

renewable energy sources, as well as the development of integrated resource planning for the energy sector.

Additionally, by establishing clear guidelines and incentives, the bill aims to stimulate investment in renewable energy projects, fostering a transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

“We will be sharing a great deal more information on the RE Bill and upcoming opportunities for learning and providing perspectives in the near future,” Commissioner Arthur assured. “Please stay tuned to media in the days and weeks ahead for details on ways to engage in this important work.”

The ten-week consultation period for the RE Bill commenced on July 1st, 2024, and will conclude on September 8th, 2024. This period offers a crucial window for public participation and feedback, allowing residents and stakeholders to contribute to the shaping of the bill’s final form.

The RE Bill has been described as more than just a piece of legislation; it represents a vision for the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The bill outlines a comprehensive strategy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, promote energy independence, stimulate economic growth, and safeguard the Islands’ pristine environment.

Central to this vision is the ambitious goal of achieving 33% of energy supplies from renewable sources by 2040.

The bill sets forth a multipronged approach to realise this target, including incentives for renewable energy infrastructure development, streamlined permitting processes, and the establishment of a competitive tendering process to ensure costeffective project selection.

Moreover, the RE Bill introduces a Net-Billing Programme, empowering building and business owners to generate their own renewable energy and sell surplus electricity back to the grid. This not only promotes selfsufficiency but also contributes to a more resilient and decentralised energy system.

The Turks and Caicos Energy and Utilities Commissioner will assume a central role in overseeing the implementation of the RE Bill.

The Commissioner will ensure compliance with licensing and performance standards, while also safeguarding the safety and efficiency of renewable energy systems.

The TCI’s thrust towards renewable energy encompasses a broader integration of renewable energy policies with existing energy frameworks, ensuring a harmonious transition towards greener energy systems while minimising environmental impact.

In essence, the Renewable Energy and Resource Planning

Bill 2023 signifies a pivotal moment in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ pursuit of a sustainable energy future. It embodies a holistic approach that balances environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, and energy security.

Commissioner Delano Arthur, who heads the Energy and Utilities Department

Regional News

Bahamas confers highest national honour on former slave

The Bahamas on Wednesday conferred the Order of National Hero to a former slave as the country celebrated its 51st anniversary of political independence from Britain.

A statement issued by the Office of the Governor General said that former slave, Kate Moss, had received the Order of National Hero posthumously and that the National Honours Committee recognises her for her “timely and determined courage demonstrated against racism and slavery.”.

In the 1820s, Henry and Helen Moss were plantation owners in Crooked Island. Kate Moss was a young house slave there. She was accused of theft, insubordination and insolence by the plantation owners.

“During her early service, Kate refused to mend clothes as instructed by her owners, and consistently refused to carry out negative orders from her “owners”. Her refusals in the era of slavery, caused her repeatedly severe punishment from which she eventually died,” the statement from the Governor General’s office noted.

“Abolitionists in England learned about the plight of Kate and called Kate -“Poor Black Kate” and when the authorities in Nassau heard about her death, they charged Henry and Helen Moss with murder. They were found guilty, and the magistrate sentenced them to pay fines totaling £300 or spend five months in Nassau’s common jail.”

It said that Kate’s death and her action against slavery became big news on both sides of the Atlantic in the late 1820s and 1830s, and

it was used to strengthen the growing demand for the abolition of slavery, a movement in England led principally by William Wilberforce.

“Kate’s actions to stand up for herself would become an act of defiance that was strong enough to make an impact on slavery worldwide and impacted on the history of The Bahamas and the world and must never be forgotten,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl significantly affects banana and plantain crops in Jamaica

Preliminary assessments conducted by the Banana Board show an 80 to 100 per cent loss for bananas and plantains, consequent on the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

The board has, so far, conducted assessments in the larger banana producing parishes of St Thomas, St Mary, Portland, St James, St Catherine and Clarendon.

General Manager, Janet Conie, says officers are still on the ground assessing the losses, despite access and communication issues.

“For the commercial banana farmers, which is about 1,564 hectares on the ground, they have experienced about 90 per cent in

losses. So, the loss is great, and we are still assessing,” she said.

Conie told JIS News that the focus is now on farmers recovering from this setback quickly.

“We have asked the farmers to, as soon as possible, go back [to their farms]. If there are bunches [of fruits] that are down that you cannot take out right away, we ask that you cover them. If they are exposed to the sun they will be damaged and you can’t sell them. That’s the first thing; and since we are at 80 to 100 per cent damage, that means the plants are down,” she said.

Conie further advised that

Community (CARICOM), Dr. Carla Barnett said that since independence, The Bahamas has established itself as an example of remarkable socio-economic development within the region and has demonstrated an indomitable spirit to recover from setbacks and move forward.

”I express sincere appreciation, on behalf of the Community, for the leadership of The Bahamas in the multilateral arena on issues such as climate change, human rights, and the multifaceted crisis in our sister nation, Haiti.

These are priority matters for the Region and The Bahamas has made significant contributions to advance the positions of the Community through its advocacy,” she added.

The Bahamas is a member of

the regional integration grouping and Barnett said “it is fitting that the Community endorsed The Bahamas as host of the Regional Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, noting your historic role as the first CARICOM Member State to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

”The Community welcomes the continued active participation of The Bahamas, under your leadership, and joins the Government and People of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in celebrating your Fifty-First Anniversary of Independence and extends wishes for ongoing success, peace and prosperity,” she said in her congratulatory note to Prime Minister Phillip Davis. (Loopnews)

Bahamas: CID Chief on leave over voice notes

Chief Superintendent of Police

farmers can leave bunches that are not yet ready, still attached to the plant to promote the fruits’ continued development.

The general manager said where this is not possible and bunches can be sold, “we are asking them to ‘chop up’”, which entails cutting off sections of the plant that are broken or bent, and which may be rotting.

“We have been showing in the media how to chop up. How to chop up is very important, because if you don’t do it right, the next crop will be very far. What we ask farmers to do within two weeks of the damage is to complete your chop up,” Conie emphasised.

Michael Johnson, the officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, has taken garden leave as authorities investigate several voice notes that purport to capture conversations involving him, a well-known lawyer and Michael Fox, Jr, a man police described as a prominent gang leader when he was killed in May.

Another man, Dino Smith, was killed in January and is also featured on the voice notes, which spread rapidly last week and brought the credibility of the Royal Bahamas Police Force under scrutiny in an era where police have repeatedly blamed the high murder rate on gang violence and the Davis administration has talked much about strengthening antigang laws.

Commissioner Fernander is expected to address the matter

during a press conference today. On Friday, he said the force takes the allegations stemming from voice notes seriously and is committed to maintaining the highest integrity and transparency. He said Chief Superintendent of Police Anthon Rahming will assume Mr Johnson’s CID responsibilities during this period.

Free National Movement chairman Dr Duane Sands urged Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and National Security Minister Wayne Munroe to request help from the FBI and Scotland Yard, adding that a Commission of Inquiry could be necessary if that fails.

“While we believe in the presumption of innocence for all, the startling contents of the circulated notes have farreaching implications for many investigations and the public’s view of the RBPF in general,” he said in a statement on Friday.

Chief Superintendent Michael Johnson speaks to members of the press near Sixth St and Poinciana Ave where a man was shot to death near the St Barnabas Urban Community Centre earlier this year

The awards ceremony was held this week

Some of the banana trees affected by the hurricane

Regional News

BVI: Veteran UK cop to oversee law, justice reforms

A 30-year veteran of the United Kingdom’s policing service has been named the “implementation manager” responsible for overseeing immediate priority reforms across the British Virgin Islands’ law-enforcement and justice-administration agencies.

Governor’s Office spokesman David Humphreys told the Beacon last week that Stuart Murray has been hired to manage the execution of the 138 policy recommendations made as part of the 175-page initial report written by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

Mr Humphreys described Mr Murray as a “strategy consultant specialising in law enforcement.”

Mr Murray recently retired from the Hampshire Constabulary, a police force made up of more than 3,000 officers that covers the southeast English counties of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The police veteran rose to the rank of assistant chief constable and led the country’s National

Police Chiefs’ Council portfolio of criminal justice recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr Humphreys said.

‘DEEP-ROOTED WEAKNESSES’

The HMICFRS review, which Premier Dr Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley laid on the table at the House of Assembly on June 25, found “deep-rooted weaknesses across many aspects of public administration, including leadership at all levels.”

These included widespread failings at agencies including the Royal VI Police Force, His Majesty’s Customs, the Immigration Department and His Majesty’s VI Prison Service.

UNSAFE CONDITIONS

The issues highlighted included unsafe working conditions, lengthy and ineffective procurement practices, poor recordkeeping, a failure to proactively gather and act on intelligence, ingrained

distrust among officers, inadequate training, and a lack of proper procedures.

Many of the review’s findings highlighted issues that have previously been identified by other means such as the 2022 Commission of Inquiry, legislators’ annual Standing Finance Committee process, and reports by the media and government watchdogs such as the auditor general and the complaints commissioner. Efforts to address many of the issues have been in the works for years but have often been stymied and ultimately left unresolved.

NEXT STEPS

Deadlines to address the HMICFRS recommendations, described in the report as “immediate” issues, loom in the coming months.

Resolving longer-term problems in the agencies will be the focus of “volume two” of the HMICFRS review, which is scheduled to be finished later this year.

(BVIBeacon)

Haiti police say largest hospital taken back from gang

Haiti’s newly selected Prime Minister Garry Conille and Haiti’s police chief visited the country’s largest hospital on Tuesday, after authorities said they took control of the medical institution over the weekend from armed gangs.

Haitian Police Chief Normil Rameau told a news conference Monday that police took control of the Hospital of the State University of Haiti, known as the General Hospital in Port-au-Prince, on Sunday night after months of escalating attacks from armed groups.

Haitians will “wake up one morning and find the operation done, the bandits stopped, and neutralised,” Rameau said at the briefing, but did not take questions from the media.

He was accompanied by Kenyan officer Godfrey Otunge, who said that the U.N.-backed contingent of Kenyan police intends to work closely with Haitian authorities as well as local and international partners dedicated to rebuilding Haiti.

The green and white-colored hospital was left ravaged by gangs, with beds stripped of their cots and ceiling fans on the floor. The

building’s interior was left with debris and lighting fixtures among the hospital’s cubicles.

Hospital walls and nearby buildings were riddled with bullet holes, signaling fights between police and gangs in the neighborhood. The hospital is just across the street from the national palace, which was the scene of several battles in the last five months.

Conille said the building looked like “a war zone.”

Council member Louis Gérald Gilles was also present on Tuesday’s visit, and announced the hospital should be in full service by February 2026. Conille said the hospital served about 1,500 people a day before the gang’s chokehold.

“This hospital is not for the rich, it’s for the poor,” Conille said on Tuesday. “These are people that

need serious help that can’t go see a private doctor.”

The attacks from criminal groups have pushed Haiti’s health system to the brink of collapse and the escalating violence has led to a surge in patients with serious illnesses and a shortage of resources to treat them.

Gangs have been looting, setting fires and destroying medical institutions and pharmacies in the

capital, where they control up to 80% of the area.

Haiti’s health care system, already struggling before the violence, faces additional challenges from the rainy season, which is likely to worsen conditions and increase the risk of water-borne diseases.

Poor hygiene conditions in camps and makeshift settlements have heightened the risk of diseases like cholera, with over 84,000 suspected cases in the country, according to a UNICEF report.

Besides the hospital, gunmen have seized police stations, attacked the main international airport (which was closed for nearly three months), and stormed Haiti’s two largest prisons.

In April, a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Haiti told The Associated Press that staff had been forced to cut the number of outpatients it treats daily from 150 to 50, with people lining up outside the hospital each day and risking being shot by gang members as they awaited medical care.

According to a report from the U.N. migration agency, the violence in Haiti has displaced nearly 580,000 people since March. (VOAnews)

Mr Murray recently retired from the Hampshire Constabulary

Haitian Police Chief Normil Rameau

Regional News

Grenada to receive US$44m from CCRIF for hurricane damage

The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance facility (CCRIF) Wednesday said it will pay US$44m to Grenada as a result of the damage and destruction caused by the passage of Hurricane Beryl last Monday. It will be the single largest payout by CCRIF, a segregated portfolio company, owned, operated, and registered in the Caribbean.

The category 4 storm left a trail of death and damage as it made its way through the Windward Islands on July 1, with the Grenada Grenadine islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique and St Vincent and the Grenadines ‘ Union island severely impacted.

CCRIF said that payout to Grenada will be made during this week, adding that Hurricane Beryl totally devastated 90 per cent of all buildings on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

It said that there was also significant damage to the agriculture sector as well as the natural environment, including mangrove ecosystems. Electric utilities, mainly the transmission and distribution systems on both islands, also were significantly damaged.

The north of mainland Grenada was also not spared the wrath of Hurricane Beryl, with damage to homes, the agriculture and forestry sectors, and electric utility transmission and distribution and water distribution systems.

In extending its “deepest condolences” to the government and people of Grenada, CCRIF said it is well aware of the impacts

on other CCRIF member countries in the region including St Vincent and the Grenadines and Jamaica.

CCRIF said that its parametric insurance policies make payments based on the intensity of an event and the amount of loss calculated in a pre-agreed model caused by these events.

It said the payout to Grenada on its tropical cyclone (TC) policy is the single largest payout by CCRIF.

Until now, Haiti had the single largest payout from CCRIF, having received just under US$40m, following the 2021 earthquake.

“These payouts represent Grenada’s first payouts from CCRIF. I commend the Government of Grenada, which has always maintained that despite not receiving a payout, it understood the importance of financially protecting the economy in case a

disaster strikes, as it would never want to see a repeat of Hurricane Ivan,” said CCRIF’s chief executive officer, Isaac Anthony.

“Countries ought to treat parametric insurance for natural hazards like they treat health insurance. We buy health insurance because it is important to help safeguard our lives. However, we hope we do not need it but when we do, we have the peace of mind that it could help us deal with a more serious illness than a common cold.

“Similarly, we do not want to be negatively impacted by natural hazards and be faced with natural disasters. However, in the case of CCRIF’s parametric insurance, the moment we really need it, it is available within 14 days of a triggering event.”

Anthony said CCRIF’s

Caribbean braces for economic punch after season’s deadly first hurricane

Leaders across the Caribbean were still tallying the financial toll wrought by the earliest Atlantic storm on record to intensify to the maximum Category 5 level, after it left a trail of destruction on Jamaica and islands of the eastern Caribbean.

“There is no doubt this disaster will have a major impact on Grenada’s economic situation,”

Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell told a briefing this week. “We are talking hundreds of millions of dollars in losses and hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild.”

Grenada’s Carriacou and Petite Martinique islands face “almost complete devastation,” he added, saying people who lost their homes were particularly vulnerable to the elements.

Mitchell emphasized the need to

rebuild structures resistant to storms, noting many of the country’s wood houses are not insured as severe weather becomes more frequent due to record sea temperatures, which scientists say is due to fossil fuel-driven climate change.

A team of insurers is set to arrive on Wednesday and the government plans to announce fiscal measures by early next week.

St. Lucia posted early estimates of close to $2 million from damages including buildings, sea moss harvests and banana plantations. Rainfall and debris hindered assessments in Jamaica, whose agriculture sector initially reported over $6 million in damages.

Outgoing CARICOM chair Dr Mohamed Ali said many long-term crops were lost and farmers would

face issues for years to come in a “heart-breaking” initial assessment for agriculture.

As a result, debt-saddled Caribbean economies may become more reliant on agricultural imports that are subject to inflation they do not control.

Despite producing few emissions, Caribbean nations are among the world’s most vulnerable to climate change, which is heating the oceans and increasing the frequency and intensity of severe storms. The region has longcalled for more action from toppolluting wealthy nations, such as honoring their climate pledges and considering debt relief, but climate-related financing and loans have funneled billions back to rich countries. (Reuters)

such as Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Jamaica now all have access to liquidity from CCRIF within 14 days of the impacts of Beryl to begin the recovery efforts.”

It said parametric insurance is not debt relief and does not add to a country’s debt stock. CCRIF has demonstrated that catastrophe risk insurance can effectively provide a level of financial protection for countries vulnerable to natural disasters.

parametric insurance must be seen as a key component in helping countries to build back better and stronger to withstand future natural hazards, especially within the context of climate change”.

CCRIF said that Hurricane Beryl is reminiscent of Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago, which impacted nine Caribbean islands.

“Beryl impacted a similar number of countries, creating much destruction along its path.The impacts of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 brought into sharp focus among Caribbean governments, the need for quick liquidity following a natural disaster,” CCRIF said, adding that regional losses due to Ivan totalled over six billion US dollars.

“There are, however, several important differences today compared to 2004. Countries

“Parametric insurance products are a key component in a country’s disaster risk financing (DRF) strategy and are designed to pre-finance short-term liquidity. CCRIF’s parametric insurance is helping to close the protection gap, reduce budget volatility, and allow countries to respond quicky to their most pressing needs, including providing support to the most vulnerable in their populations.”

Since its inception in 2007, and prior to Beryl, CCRIF said it made 65 payouts totalling US$274 million to 17 members and is expected to make 10 payouts under Beryl totalling over US$75 million in the next few days thereby taking payouts to approximately US$350 million.

It said that the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines will receive US$1.8 million, and the Trinidad and Tobago government will receive US$372,752 for the impacts of Beryl on Tobago.

“Jamaica will also receive payouts, and these will be communicated in the coming days.

Grenada Grenadine islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique were severely affected

Grenada’s PM Dickon Mitchell said the island suffered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages

Democrats concerned about President Biden’s decline

At a star-studded fundraiser for President Joe Biden in Los Angeles last month, George Clooney wasn’t the only one who came away concerned about the president.

Even before Biden made remarks that night, whispers of concern rippled through the audience at the Peacock Theater about the president who had just arrived from a long flight from Italy. Some of the biggest donors at the $30 million fundraising event, who had waited in line to take pictures with Biden, expressed unease at how the president looked and carried himself.

“He was less cogent than usual,” said one attendee, who was surprised that during a smaller meeting with donors before the main event, Biden barely spoke. Instead, this person said, he left virtually all of the talking to former President Barack Obama, which struck some guests as unusual for a loquacious politician like Biden.

Biden’s appearance in California struck attendees as starkly different from a fundraising gala he attended in March at Radio City Music Hall in New York, one Democrat guest told CNN, when Biden appeared on stage with Obama and former President Bill Clinton.

“There is a marked difference in the president from the spring to the summer,” a senior Democrat told CNN. “He’s just not the same.”

Back in Washington, there have been clear signs throughout his term of Biden being increasingly stage-managed, with lists of talking points, names of questioners and drawings of where he should walk presented to him by aides. Ahead of closed-door Cabinet meetings that Biden attends, it is customary for Cabinet officials to submit questions and key talking points that they plan to present in front of Biden ahead of time to White House aides, two sources with direct knowledge told CNN.

“The entire display is kind of an act,” one of those sources told CNN. “They would come and say, ‘Hey, the president is going to call on you about 25 minutes in, and ask this question. What are the bullet points you’ll respond with?’”

The second source, who echoed

that same description, said when Biden attends Cabinet meetings, they are “not free-wheeling, and pretty well-orchestrated.”

And the meetings themselves are infrequent, with one Cabinet secretary telling CNN they are uncertain of Biden’s condition because they so rarely see him.

In fact, the last full Cabinet meeting took place on October 2, 2023. Sources also said Cabinet meetings during the Obama years, which Biden attended as vice president, were not pre-scripted this way.

‘THIS IS GOING TO GET WORSE’

Even as the oldest sitting president in history, at 81, Biden’s halting performance at CNN’s presidential debate last month came as a serious shock to most inside the White House and across the administration, including senior officials who have known the president for years and regularly have private conversations and meetings with him.

CNN talked to more than two dozen current and former Democratic officials, donors and longtime Biden allies, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid alienating Biden and discuss sensitive health matters verboten by the White House. While it’s clear the president had aged in the past year, none of them said they had seen the version of Biden, faltering and dazed, that showed up at last month’s debate.

In many of these conversations, sources blamed the president’s inner circle of advisers and family for what they said has become a painstakingly choreographed daily operation designed to prevent him from being in unscripted settings for extended periods of time.

“There’s this general sense of just, unbelievable holding your breath every time he does an event, every time he’s with people,” one top Democrat in close touch with Biden’s inner circle of advisers told CNN. This person added that some of those advisers have privately acknowledged: “This is going to get worse.”

That Democrat was blunt about

how the president’s closest advisers have responded to any criticism or concerns expressed about the president – including his age and fitness: “Everyone who expresses any level of suspicion or contrary views? They call everyone and they beat the s*** out of them and say: ‘Stay on message.’”

At least one official involved in Biden’s debate prep at Camp David raised doubts about his ability after seeing how rehearsals were going, according to one source briefed on those preparations.

“It’s not like Biden’s inner circle didn’t know this,” one Democratic strategist close to the White House said of the extent of the president’s recent decline.

Campaign officials have rejected Clooney’s and other donors’ characterization of Biden at the Los Angeles fundraiser, with one senior Biden official who was in attendance telling CNN that while the president had in fact been tired that day, he was “animated and extremely present.”

As for Biden’s Cabinet meetings, the White House provided a statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack – who also served under Obama – saying what is described in this story is “standard practice for any administration” because “there should not be surprise in Cabinet meetings.”

White House spokesman Andrew Bates defended the breadth of Biden’s engagements with the press, his travels and record. “Joe Biden has always said that it is fair for reporters to ask about his age and has always confidently shown his values, agenda, intelligence, and determination to the American people,” Bates said. “Officials who meet with him frequently have spoken to his sharpness and command.”

Bates did not specifically offer comment on sources telling CNN that Biden’s closest advisers are unaccepting of criticism or concerns about the president,

including his age and health.

‘DRIP, DRIP, DRIP’

After two weeks of defiance following the debate, Biden faces a growing number of calls to bow out of the 2024 race. Many of the sources who spoke to CNN said they expected that the pressure will keep building, as more and more Democratic lawmakers signal he should go.

“Expect a drip, drip, drip,” said one former Biden White House official.

It’s a crisis of potentially historic importance, with growing fears among Democrats that Biden could drag down the party’s ticket, threaten the quest for reclaiming their House majority and further complicate efforts to hold onto Senate control.

By Tuesday of this week, as frontline campaigns reviewed their own internal polling, it became clear that the concerns were widespread – and carried signs of sweeping down ballot damage, according to four Democratic campaign officials involved in key races.

“Erosion. Across the board,” one of the officials said.

For Biden himself, the coming days are pivotal. His longtime ally, Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, said so herself when, during an appearance on MSNBC this week, she reopened the door to Biden’s decision, despite his insistence he is staying in the race.

The president’s news conference Thursday will be highly scrutinized, as donors and allies look for signs that Biden has the vigor to remain the Democratic candidate, as his campaign has argued.

Biden will hold further off-thecuff engagements next week as he sits for another closely-watched network interview Monday with NBC News’ Lester Holt. He will also hit the campaign trail, seeking to bolster his stance with Latino and Black coalitions during a trip to Las Vegas.

No matter how Biden does, though, the damage of the debate is baked into the minds of a lot of Democrats who spoke to CNN.

“Blinders are off and everyone is aware,” one source close to the White House told CNN. “Numbers have changed; reality has changed; the people who make this all possible from a funding perspective are concerned; and your voters are telling you there’s a lack of enthusiasm.”

‘WHAT’S

YOUR PLAN B?’

Even last year, concern around Biden’s age was noticeable –and hardly a secret – among Democratic power circles.

Last September, at the ultraprivate confab in Aspen, Colorado, known among attendees as “The Weekend,” Hollywood power broker and Democratic donor Ari Emanuel asked a pointed question of Ron Klain, Biden’s former chief of staff and longtime adviser.

“What’s your Plan B?” Emanuel yelled to Klain who was on stage for a panel discussion about the presidential race, according to two attendees. Given Biden’s age, Emanuel wanted to know what the Democrats’ back-up plan was heading into the primaries and how quickly it could be executed.

Klain, the attendees said, appeared exasperated in his response. “He’s the sitting president of the United States! What do you want me to do?”

As attendees rode a bus to another venue to hear Obama deliver a lunchtime speech, the chatter turned to Emanuel’s outburst, and the shared view that Biden, then 80, was getting over his skis: “Why doesn’t anyone protect this man?” one wondered aloud.

The exchange – which neither Emanuel nor Klain would confirm or deny – underscores the longheld reservations among influential Democrats about the viability of Biden months before the debate.

President Joe Biden during the CNN Presidential Debate on Thursday, June 27, in Atlanta

UK economy grew faster than expected in May

The UK economy grew faster than expected in May helped by a strong performance from retailers and the construction industry.

The economy expanded by 0.4%, rebounding from zero growth in April when wet weather put off shoppers and slowed down building projects.

Construction grew at the fastest rate in almost a year in May, with house building and infrastructure projects boosting the industry, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Analysts said the new figures, together with recent comments from Bank of England policymakers, meant the decision on whether interest rates will be cut next month was on a “knife-edge”.

May’s growth figure was double what was expected. Liz McKeown, of the ONS, said that many retailers and wholesalers “had a good month, with both bouncing back from a weak April”.

The services sector, which dominates the UK economy and covers businesses such as shops, bars and restaurants, grew by 0.3% in May, while the construction sector jumped by 1.9%.

Economists warn against placing too much weight on shifts in economic activity over one month because they can be affected

by factors such as the weather.

In the three months to May 2024, the economy grew by 0.9% compared with the previous three months, which the ONS said was the quickest pace for more than two years.

Analysts said the surprisingly strong growth figures could reduce the chances of the Bank of England cutting interest rates from the 16year high of 5.25% when it meets on 1 August.

Interest rates were increased by the Bank in order to slow the pace of inflation - the rate at which prices rise. However, the latest inflation figures showed the rate had fallen back to the Bank’s target of 2%.

Despite this, two members of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which decides the level of interest rates, have said this week they remain worried that inflationary pressures are persisting.

Strong growth in the economy can push up demand for goods and staff, which in turn can increase prices and wages. The latest figures for inflation and wage rises will be published next week.

“This snapshot of an economy growing a bit faster than forecast, could make Bank of England policymakers that bit more reticent

May’s growth figure was double what was expected

about voting for an interest rate cut,” said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown.

“The possibility of a summer rate cut is fading, with a vote on 1 August expected to be on a knifeedge.”

Rob Wood, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said: “The UK economy is well and truly putting last year’s minor recession behind it.

“Rate-setters look desperate to ease policy and said in the minutes of their June meeting that they were unconcerned about strongerthan-expected growth,” he added.

“Even so, this latest upside growth surprise supports our call that the MPC will wait until September to reduce Bank Rate.”

Carrie-Anne Moore runs alternative store Broken Bonds in Digbeth indoor market in Birmingham where she says business is booming.

“I started quite small and over the last six months it has grown quite substantially from a small

unit to a big unit to a second spot so for me it’s been pretty good,” she said.

As well as her space in Digbeth Ms Moore also sells at markets and tattoo conventions.

“I think now people want to get out and about again, they don’t want to shop online,” Ms Moore added.

“They want a more personable experience in shopping rather than just that faceless big corporation.”

However, things are not going so smoothly for Mark Preston, who runs Ideal Skateboard in Digbeth.

“It’s been a very difficult spring… nobody’s really been coming out and buying stuff because the weather’s been terrible,” he said.

“Skateboarding is an outdoor sport so when it’s wet, people just aren’t out doing it. And so if they’re not doing it, they’re not buying more products.”

The question of how to increase growth in the UK’s economy was one of the key battlegrounds in the recent general election.

Responding to the latest growth figures, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said economic growth was the government’s “national mission”, and “that is why this week I have already taken the urgent action necessary to fix the foundations of our economy”.

On Monday, Ms Reeves said housebuilding targets would be reintroduced, planning restrictions would be overhauled and there would be an end to the effective ban on onshore wind farms in England.

A new National Wealth Fund has also been announced to attract investment in infrastructure and green industry.

The shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Laura Trott said the latest economy figures “show that the steps we put in place whilst in government have strengthened the economy”.

“These figures also prove Labour are inheriting an economy turning a corner, after the many difficult decisions we took in government,” she added. (BBC)

UK-US relations ‘strong’ says PM as he meets Biden

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says his first face-to-face talks with US President Joe Biden were an opportunity to “recommit” to Nato and the “special relationship” between the UK and US.

Facing reporters in the White House, Sir Keir told the president: “The special relationship is so important. It’s forged in difficult circumstances, endured for so long, and stronger now than ever.”

The new prime minister met President Biden for the first time at Nato’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington just hours before their private talks in the Oval Office.

President Biden called the US and UK the “best of allies”, saying the UK was “the transatlantic knot” that ties Nato together with its European members.

It comes as Sir Keir is looking to

form a new security pact with EU nations to strengthen co-operation on defence.

The two leaders’ meeting came as Nato agreed further support for

Ukraine at the Washington summit.

Sir Keir also confirmed that the UK’s £3bn a year military aid for Kyiv would continue.

President Biden said “things are

moving in the right direction, I’m feeling really optimistic”.

The prime minister congratulated President Biden on hosting the summit, adding it was

“a bigger Nato, a stronger Nato and a Nato with the resolve that we need”.

The Labour leader - on his first overseas visit as prime minister - is a season ticket holder at Arsenal Football Club and gave President Biden a personalised team shirt as a present.

It has President Biden’s surname on the back and the number 46 - a reference to him being the 46th US president.

Sir Keir also gave him a copy of the Atlantic Charter - the 1941 US-UK declaration which paved the way for the formation of the military alliance - featuring amendments from the then Labour leader Clement Attlee.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who accompanied Sir Keir on the trip, met his US counterpart Antony Blinken.

President Biden called the US and UK the “best of allies”, saying the UK was “the transatlantic knot” that ties Nato together with its European members

US inflation cools to slowest pace in a year

Price rises in the US cooled in June, building hopes that the world’s largest economy is moving on from the bout of high inflation that hit after the pandemic.

Prices rose 3% over the 12 months to June, as lower petrol prices helped to deliver the slowest price inflation in a year, the Labor Department said.

It marked the third month in a row that inflation has fallen, easing financial pressures on households and potentially clearing the way for the US central bank to cut interest rates as soon as September.

The Federal Reserve’s key lending rate has stood at more than 5.3%, a roughly two-decade high, since last year.

Fed officials say high borrowing costs are weighing on the economy, helping to reduce the pressures pushing up prices.

Analysts said the latest report could help to convince the bank that it has done enough to cure the problem.

From May to June, prices actually dropped 0.1% - the first outright monthly decline in years.

Kenya’s President Ruto fires almost entire cabinet after protests

Kenyan President William Ruto has fired almost his entire cabinet after weeks of anti-government protests, he announced Thursday.

Only Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi have been left in their posts, the president said.

The decision was taken “upon reflection, and a holistic appraisal” of his cabinet, he told reporters from State House Nairobi.

“Even with the progress we’ve made, I’m acutely aware that the people of Kenya have very high expectations of me, and they believe that this administration can undertake the most extensive transformation in our nation’s history.”

Ruto said he is engaging in

“extensive consultations” to form a “broad-based” new government.

The Kenyan leader has been at the centre of a political firestorm in recent weeks after efforts to push through a controversial tax bill sparked days of violent protest across the country.

He acknowledged on Thursday that the recent turn of events had brought the country to an “inflexion point” which necessitated action.

Ruto chose to withdraw the Finance Bill entirely at the end of June after deadly protests that left dozens dead.

“I will immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, with the aim of setting up a broad-based government,” Ruto said.

“The latest inflation numbers put us firmly on the path for a September Fed rate cut,” said Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management.

The progress is welcome news for the White House, which has struggled with widespread economic dissatisfaction as the jump in living costs and interest rates squeeze households.

inflation readings but maybe the tide is starting to turn,” he said.

At hearings in Washington this week, Republican lawmakers warned Fed chairman Jerome Powell that a rate cut ahead of the November election would be perceived as trying to “gin up the economy” for the president.

Mr Powell refused to speculate about when the Fed would make its next move, but defended the bank’s political independence and said its decision would be rooted in the data.

Grocery prices are up 1.1% since June 2023, while housing costs have climbed 5.2%.

Last month, the increases in rents and prices for services such as veterinary treatment cooled, noted Greg McBride, analyst for Bankrate.com

“Shelter and services costs have been the long-standing and persistent trouble spots in the

Over the past year, petrol prices and the cost of cars and appliances have fallen, but the cost of other staples has continued to rise.

He told lawmakers a cut was the most likely next step, noting that the bank was alert, not just to inflation figures, but also to signs that the economy was slowing.

“We’re very much aware that we have two-sided risks now and we’re determined to balance those as best we can,” he said. “We want to see more good inflation data and we also want to continue to see a strong labour market.”

In June, the US unemployment rate crept above 4% for the first time in more than two years.

A days-long search for a missing baby boy in Louisiana has ended after a truck driver spotted the one-year-old crawling through the grass alongside a busy highway.

Sheriff Gary Guillory told the BBC that the child’s discovery “was a miracle”, after he survived alone outdoors for “two days with no water and no food”.

Calcasieu police had been searching for the baby since 8 July, the day they found his four-yearold brother deceased in a nearby pond.

The same day, a press release sent out by police caused a local media storm that led to the arrest of Aaliyah Jack, the boys’ mother, in Mississippi, hundreds of miles away.

Ms Jack is in jail in Meridian, Mississippi, awaiting extradition to Louisiana on a charge of failing to report a missing child.

Mr Guillory said that additional charges may be added.

The baby was taken to hospital and released on Wednesday to child protective services.

“We call him a miracle baby,” Sheriff Guillory said.

“He did have insect bites all over his body, but he was in good spirits. We’re just thankful.”

The sheriff said the weather worked in their favour.

“The sun never really came out and heated up the air,” he said, referring to Louisiana’s often brutal summer temperatures.

“We had some remnants from [Hurricane] Beryl, some extra cloud coverage that probably kept his body cool. We were very lucky.”

The sequence of events leading to the baby’s rescue began on Monday when the Calcasieu Parish Sherrifs Office received a call about

a body being located in a pond near the Vinton Welcome Center.

“Our first priority was to get it out to the news media and get some leads,” Mr Guillory said.

“And that’s exactly what happened.”

On Monday evening, the sheriff’s office received a call from a grandmother who had seen the reports and was concerned about her grandchildren.

She told police the four-yearold had a younger brother, which caused police to issue a ‘bolo’ (be on the lookout) alert for the missing one-year-old and his mother.

Ms Jackson was arrested at a train station in Mississippi hours later.

On Tuesday morning, a marine division of the sheriff’s office was boating through the pond where the brother had been found, searching for the missing boy.

Kenya’s President William Ruto said he is engaging in “extensive consultations” to form a “broad-based” new government

Housing prices continued to rise in June but at a slower pace

A view of Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

BIG BLUE COLLECTIVE

#2 Marina Street, Leeward Marina, Providenciales 946-5034

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SCUBA DIVING/WATERSPORTS INDUSTRY

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Operations Manager to oversee the daily operations of a busy watersports and boat charter service. The ideal candidate must:

1) Have a minimum of 3-5 years of experience in operations management, preferably in the watersports or hospitality industry with proven leadership skills and the ability to manage and inspire a culturally diverse team and work closely with other managers and ownership.

2) Be a proactive team leader and team builder with excellent communication skills and experience in managing staff duties, training, and monitoring performance.

3) Have exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage inventory, daily schedules, show initiative, create purchase orders and meet deadlines.

4) Have hold professional qualifications in boating and scuba diving, with the ability to conduct trips and charters when necessary.

5) Have a strong commitment to safety and customer service with a solid knowledge of boat safety regulations and best practices in watersports and boating.

Candidates with a bachelor’s degree or diploma in business administration, hospitality management, health and safety or other related fields are preferred. The ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays, is required. Turks and Caicos Islanders preferred. The starting salary is $60,000 per annum plus other incentives and benefits.

INTERESTED CANDIDATES ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT THEIR RESUME AND A COVER LETTER OUTLINING THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE TO CAREERS@BIGBLUECOLLECTIVE.COM BEFORE 9TH AUGUST 2024 WITH THE SUBJECT LINE “OPERATIONS MANAGER APPLICATION”.

We are looking for an honest, hardworking, self-motivated individual with keen organizational and communication skills to join our team. The butler must be knowledgeable about services offered and serve as an attentive liaison between guest and staff. Please note this position requires the applicant to be on call 24/7.

BUTLER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Inspect villa before and after guest arrival

• Greet guest upon arrival, unpacking and packing guest suitcases/bags

• Anticipate and meet guest needs

• See Guest off upon departure

• Unpacking and packing guest clothing

• Ironing clothing and pressing linen

• Serve meal & prepare cocktail and other beverages

• Run errands (must have valid driver’s license)

• Must assist with cleaning rooms and assist with the upkeep of the villa

• Assist with replenishing inventory, including cleaning supplies, dishware, etc.

BUTLER REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Certification in Safety Management or Food Safety

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience working as a butler at a luxury villa/resort

• Must have a sunny disposition and must maintain a positive attitude

• Ability to adapt to fast paced-paced environment

GENERAL PRACTITIONER

• Minimum of M.B.B.S. or a Medical Doctor Degree from an accredited University

• Minimum of 5 years work experience in a Primary Health Care setting and a minimum of 3 years working in a Secondary Health Care institution

• Minimum of 5 years registered Medical Practitioner on a register of a recognized Medical Board.

• Patient consultations and examinations

• Diagnosis and treatment of illness/ailments

• Manage acute and chronic illnesses, patient education

• Order laboratory/ diagnostic tests

• Perform minor procedures

• Liaise with healthcare professionals and/or hospitals

• Computer knowledge –experience using EMR files

VACANCIES

APPLICATION FOR ACQUISITION OF LAND BY PRESCRIPTION (REGISTERED LAND ORDINANCE 1967)

THIS NOTICE IS ISSUED UNDER SECTION 137 OF THE REGISTERED LAND ORDINANCE

NOTICE IS GIVEN that an application under Section 135 of the Registered Land Ordinance has been received by the Registrar of Lands from William Richard Penn of the Bight & Thomas Stubbs, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands to acquire all of the property listed below by prescription from the registered proprietor.

OF OWNERS

The Registrar of Lands, after one (1) month has elapsed from the date of this notice, and on being satisfied that the Applicant has acquired the ownership of the land claimed, may allow the application and register the Applicant as the proprietor of the land claimed, subject to any interests on the register which have not been extinguished by the possession.

Dated this 26th June, 2024 at Cockburn Town By order of the Registrar of Lands Any Objections to this application should be made before the expiration of one (1) month from the date above and sent to: The Land Registry, Pond Street, Grand Turk marked “Application 853/22 Objection.”

TITLE NUMBER SECTION ISLAND 60807/103 THE BIGHT & THOMAS STUBBS PROVIDENCIALES

Whereas, KATHLEEN DIANE GREEN in her capacity as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Robert Allen Green, has declared that the Land Certificate for the above-mentioned title number registered in the name of Robert Allen Green 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 4th day of July, 2024

Publicized by Order Registrar of Lands.

EXPERIENCED TILER

Company: Liluce Tile Contracting

VACANCIES

ABEL JOSEPH

343-7031

Cox Drive, Kew Town

BABYSITTER

$8.00

Taking care of son, bathing & feeding him, monitor him, wash, iron, cook and clean the apartment.

FEDRIC PIERRE

South Dock

232-2295

DOMESTIC WORKER

$8.00

Cleaning my home, caring for my children, prepare their meals, clean the house, wash, iron and cook

ISLAND BEST FISH & VARIETY STORE

343-0822

LABOURER

$8.00

Unload containers, help customer with heavy lifting and help transport goods

TROPICAL BAR & GRILL

Blue Hills

241-0426

KITCHEN HELPER

$8.00

Preparing the workstation for the cook, sorting and distributing

ingredients, keeping the kitchen clean, pick up waste.

JEAN LUXAMA Kew Town 341-7518

BABYSITTER

$8.50

Caring for my 2 children, feed, bath, monitor them, wash, cook, iron and clean the home

MARIE JEAN RESTUARENT 343-1293 South Dock

KITCHEN HELPER

$8.00

preparing the workstation for the cook, sorting and distributing ingredients, keeping the kitchen clean

PASSION BEAUTY SALON 333-1236 Airport Road 203

COSMETOLOGY

$9.00 perm, shampoo, permanent hair coloring client’s hair, cutting, knotless braids, passion twist, invisible braids, pineapple braids, faux locks, rope twist, fish tails braids and Havana braiding hair, braids small children and men hair.

Location: Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands Pay: $9.00 hourly

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Liluce Tile Contracting is seeking two skilled and experienced Tilers to join our dynamic team. We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality craftsmanship and exceptional service to our clients. As a Tiler with us, you will play a crucial role in our construction and renovation projects, ensuring precision and excellence in every tile installation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Prepare surfaces for tiling by cleaning and leveling them.

• Measure and cut tiles to fit around obstacles and into odd spaces and corners.

• Lay tiles in a precise and even manner, ensuring proper alignment and spacing.

• Apply grout and finish tiled surfaces.

• Inspect completed work to ensure it meets the company’s high standards.

• Repair and replace damaged tiles.

• Collaborate with other team members to complete projects efficiently.

• Maintain tools and equipment in good working condition.

• Adhere to all health and safety regulations.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven experience as a Tiler.

• Proficiency in cutting and installing a variety of tiles (ceramic, porcelain, marble, etc.).

• Strong understanding of tiling techniques and methods.

• Excellent attention to detail and precision.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Good physical condition and stamina.

• Valid driver’s license (preferred).

BENEFITS:

• Competitive salary based on experience.

• Paid vacation and sick leave.

• Opportunities for professional development.

• Positive and supportive work environment.

HOW TO APPLY:

Contact: 346-1897 or 343-5343

Email: Mackxelandepierre@gmail.com

Top Democratic fundraiser Clooney calls on Biden to drop out

George Clooney has issued a damning call for Joe Biden to quit the US presidential race, hours after senior Democrat Nancy Pelosi swerved questions about whether he should continue.

The actor and prominent Democratic fundraiser said the president had won many battles in his career, “but the one battle he cannot win is the fight against time”.

Another Hollywood star and fundraiser, Michael Douglas, later told the BBC he was “worried” about Mr Biden’s electoral chances.

The president has stated, repeatedly, that he is determined to remain as the Democratic party’s candidate and beat Donald Trump,

78, in November. The celebrities’ comments came after Mrs Pelosi, the former House

Speaker, joined growing disquiet in the party, saying time was “running short” for Mr Biden, 81, to decide

whether to stay in the race after his stumbling debate against Trump.

Clooney wrote in the New York Times that it was “devastating to say it”, but the Joe Biden he met at a fundraising event three weeks ago was not the Biden of 2010.

“He wasn’t even the Joe Biden of 2020,” added the actor.

“He was the same man we all witnessed at the debate,” Clooney said.

The fundraising event, co-hosted by Clooney in Los Angeles and also featuring Julia Roberts and Barbra Streisand, brought in a single-night record of roughly $30m (£23m) for the Biden campaign.

The Biden camp has hit back at the Hollywood star, with an unnamed source telling US media:

“The President stayed for over 3 hours [at the fundraiser], while Clooney took a photo quickly and left.”

The president’s campaign also pointed out that when he attended the fundraiser he had just arrived in Los Angeles from Italy, where he had been at the G7 summit.

In his op-ed, Clooney wrote:

“Our party leaders need to stop telling us that 51 million people didn’t see what we just saw.”

“This is about age. Nothing more,” he continued. “We are not going to win in November with this president.”

Clooney added that his concerns matched those of “every” member of Congress with whom he had spoken.

In his own comments, Michael Douglas said he had concerns about Mr Biden’s capabilities during a potential second term: “I am worried not this week or next week, but let’s say next year.”

The actor said he had held a fundraiser in April for Mr Biden, who he believed had done an “incredible job”. But, citing the debate with Trump, he said it was important for a candidate to be “articulate” during such a “combative” political era.

Asked to respond to Clooney, Mr Biden’s campaign referred to a letter the president sent Democrats in Congress that said he was “firmly committed” to his candidacy and beating Trump. (BBC)

The Shining actress Shelley Duvall dies at 75

US actress Shelley Duvall, known for films like The Shining, Annie Hall and Nashville, has died at the age of 75.

Her partner Dan Gilroy confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.

Duvall’s other credits included 1977 drama 3 Women, directed by Robert Altman, for which she won the Cannes Film Festival’s best actress award and was nominated for a Bafta.

Three years later, she starred as Olive Oyl opposite Robin Williams in Altman’s version of Popeye.

But Duvall fell out of favour in Hollywood and was off screens for two decades, before making her comeback in 2023’s The Forest Hills.

With her large brown eyes and offbeat charisma, Duvall was a distinctive and compelling presence.

She began her career, and her association with Altman, in 1970 dark comedy Brewster McCloud. The pair reunited for 1975’s Nashville, Altman’s acclaimed satire of US society, politics and country music.

Two years later, she played Pam, a Rolling Stone reporter who goes on a date with Woody Allen’s Alvy in Annie Hall.

Her best-known role was perhaps Wendy, the wife of Jack Nicholson’s terrifying hotel manager in Stanley Kubrick’s 1977 horror classic The Shining.

Filming was an ordeal. “I had to cry 12 hours a day, all day long, the last nine months straight, five or six days a week,” she once recalled.

After that, Duvall’s film roles included Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits and Roxanne with Steve Martin.

Clooney said the Democrats will not win in November with Mr Biden

Shelley Duvall spent 20 years out of the Hollywood spotlight

Will K-pop’s AI experiment pay off?

There’s an issue dividing K-pop fans right now - artificial intelligence.

Several of the genre’s biggest stars have now used the technology to create music videos and write lyrics, including boy band Seventeen.

Last year the South Korean group sold around 16 million albums, making them one of the most successful K-pop acts in history. But it’s their most recent album and single, Maestro, that’s got people talking.

The music video features an AIgenerated scene, and the record might well include AI-generated lyrics too. At the launch of the

album in Seoul, one of the band members, Woozi, told reporters he was “experimenting” with AI when songwriting.

“We practised making songs with AI, as we want to develop along with technology rather than complain about it,” he said.

“This is a technological development that we have to leverage, not just be dissatisfied with. I practised using AI and tried to look for the pros and cons.”

On K-pop discussion pages, fans were torn, with some saying more regulations need to be in place before the technology becomes normalised.

Others were more open to it,

including super fan Ashley Peralta.

“If AI can help an artist overcome creative blocks, then that’s OK with me,” says the 26-year-old. Her worry though, is that a whole album of AI generated lyrics means fans will lose touch with

their favourite musicians.

Ashley presents Spill the Soju, a K-pop fan podcast, with her best friend Chelsea Toledo. Chelsea admires Seventeen for being a selfproducing group, which means they write their own songs and

choreograph them too, but she’s worried about AI having an impact on that reputation.

For those working in K-Pop production, it’s no surprise that artists are embracing new technologies.

Chris Nairn is a producer, composer and songwriter working under the name Azodi. Over the past 12 years he’s written songs for K-pop artists including Kim Woojin and leading agency SM Entertainment.

Working with K-pop stars means Chris, who lives in Brighton, has spent a lot of time in South Korea, whose music industry he describes as progressive.

“What I’ve learned by hanging out in Seoul is that Koreans are big on innovation, and they’re very big on ‘what’s the next thing?’, and asking, ‘how can we be one step ahead?’ It really hit me when I was there,” he says.

“So, to me, it’s no surprise that they’re implementing AI in lyric writing, it’s about keeping up with technology.”

Is AI the future of K-pop? Chris isn’t so sure. As someone who experiments with AI lyric generators, he doesn’t feel the lyrics are strong enough for top artists. If anything, Chris predicts AI in K-pop will increase the demand for more personal songs.

“There’s going to be pressure from fans to hear lyrics that are from the artist’s heart, and therefore sound different to any songs made using AI”.

Seventeen aren’t the only K-pop band experimenting with AI. Girl group Aespa, who have several AI members as well as human ones, also used the technology in their latest music video. Supernova features generated scenes where the faces of band members remain still as only their mouths move.

Podcaster and super-fan Chelsea says it “triggered” a lot of people.

“K-pop is known for amazing production and editing, so having whole scenes made of AI takes away the charm,” she adds.

Chelsea also worries about artists not getting the right credit. “With AI in videos it’s harder to know if someone’s original artwork has been stolen, it’s a really touchy subject”.

Aespa, who have several AI members as well as human ones, also used the technology in their latest music video

Sing Sing review: This ‘affecting’ fact-based prison drama is Oscar-tipped

“Powerful” Colman Domingo stars as a real-life inmate of New York’s infamous Sing Sing Correctional Facility in a moving film about an inspirational prison theatre programme.

When non-professionals appear alongside professional actors, the seams often show, resulting in an unconvincing hybrid. Not so for Sing Sing, a fact-based drama about a programme to rehabilitate prisoners through theatre. The Oscar-nominated Colman Domingo is at the centre as the real-life Divine G, imprisoned in New York’s infamous Sing Sing Correctional Facility. He is surrounded by a cast of men formerly imprisoned there, non-actors playing versions of themselves. Against all odds, this works beautifully. Sing Sing is a polished, affecting film based on harsh but hopeful realities.

The film’s perspective is a wildly different view from lurid prison dramas, or even documentaries. We are instantly

put in the midst of a production of Rehabilitation Through the Arts, or RTA, an ongoing theatre programme in six New York State prisons. Divine G, the nickname for John Whitfield, is a founding member of the group and its star, as we see in the opening scene, as Domingo, in closeup and in character, recites from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Two other professionals have major

The Killers give England fans euphoric

Destiny was calling England’s footballers in the Euro 2024 semi-final - but thousands of fans with tickets to see The Killers at London’s O2 arena on Wednesday thought they would have to miss the match.

However, the US rock band had a solution - they delighted the crowd by showing the climax of the game on the big screen.

And as the arena erupted at the final whistle, the band ramped up the celebrations further by immediately launching into their euphoric anthem Mr Brightside.

“I’ve been to some pretty cool gigs in my time and I had mixed feelings when I realised my birthday present was the Killers at the O2 tonight clashing with the semi-final,” wrote author and journalist Tim Shipman on X.

“Then they did this and we went from delirium to my favourite

night at O2

song. Perfection.”

Sky reporter Martin Kimber wrote: “Possibly the most electric moment of my life. When the Killers livestream the Euros right before England win and they hit us with Mr Brightside.”

Another fan, Amelia, wrote: “England going through to the final and the Killers immediately playing Mr Brightside after will forever be a core memory for me now.”

The song’s lyrics “I just can’t look, it’s killing me” are usually apt for England games, but the players took control of Wednesday’s semifinal when substitute striker Ollie Watkins scored in the 90th minute. Frontman Brandon Flowers was pictured at the front of the O2 stage watching the final minutes with the fans, before red and white streamers were fired over the jubilant crowd at full-time.

roles. Paul Raci plays Brent Buell, the volunteer who visits the prison

to run the program, and Sean San José is Mike Mike, Divine G’s friend and another imprisoned RTA member. But most of the characters on screen – discussing what play to put on next and doing acting exercises – went through RTA. They are the story’s true foc The main character among them is Clarence Maclin, known as Divine Eye. He brings superb depth and naturalism to his role as a man with a reputation for being hottempered who is also a sensitive Shakespeare fan who wants to join RTA. Film history is full of people who bombed at playing versions of themselves, but Maclin is the rare exception. Divine G and Divine

Eye start out as wary rivals but become good friends. Maclin and Domingo are terrific collaborators, making their slow-growing bond believable.

Domingo has been powerful recently in Rustin and The Color Purple, and he is the same here, capturing Divine G’s larger-thanlife presence yet letting the rest of the cast shine too. Domingo is always central, but he makes that a reflection of the character’s importance in the group, not an actor’s star turn. His unsentimental performance makes Divine G a man full of positive ideas and energy, with some anger and ego roiling deep inside. (BBC)

The film’s perspective is a wildly different view from lurid prison dramas

The Killers at the end of their gig, with drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr wearing an England shirt

My name is Vitus and I’m looking for pen friends from the Turks and Caicos Islands. I’m a Rhaeto-Roman from Switzerland and am very interested in the Turks and Caicos Islands. That’s why I’m looking for pen friends from these wonderful islands.

Please write me in English or German to the following address: VITUS CASTELBERG

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

Reporting: Maintenance Manager Department: Maintenance

JOB

PURPOSE:

Under the supervision of the Maintenance Manager, the Maintenance Technician is responsible for performing diversified duties to troubleshoot, install, repair and maintain all resort facilities, parking lots, vehicles, equipment and water works.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

1. Perform daily maintenance tasks as assigned by the Maintenance Manager or other authorized individuals, manage time responsibly and actively pursue new tasks as appropriate.

2. Respond to maintenance inquiries, issues, concerns, requests, procedures and projects and take immediate action to resolve/provide solutions.

3. Repair defects in facilities, appliances, machinery and equipment and report same to supervisor, relevant owners, management and co-workers.

4. Complete work order requests as assigned and submit completed forms, detailing time and materials, to supervisor or authorized persons; ensure work orders are given priority and completed timely with the highest quality standards.

5. Conduct pre-arrival room checks 24 hours prior to arrival or as soon as practical.

6. Test, record and/or service health and safety systems, physical plant, utilities, pools, waste water treatment plants, fitness equipment, laundry equipment, lighting, the Resort and related equipment on a regularly scheduled basis.

7. Perform special projects as assigned by the Maintenance Manager or other authorized individuals.

8. Report inventory shortages prior to depletion; submit purchase order requests to supervisor or authorized person; maintain inventory control procedures and participate in physical inventory as required.

9. Keep maintenance work areas, workshop and storerooms neat, tidy, organized and in compliance with TCIG health and safety regulations.

10. Maintain a proper set of work tools; keep company tools in good working order; keep tools/equipment secure and in proper storage

areas.

11. Keep supervisor and relevant co-workers informed/advised of projects and provide progress reports on guest/owner issues.

12. Remain flexible to accommodate customers and respond to emergency calls as needed when off duty.

13. Complete assigned Checklists and Work Orders in a timely manner and submit to supervisor for approval.

14. Follow safety and cleanliness standards in the completion of all maintenance tasks.

15. Take ownership/responsibility for issues that require maintenance attention and respond quickly and appropriately.

16. Maintain knowledge of the resort, its operations and relevant inventory.

17. Maintain professional, courteous manner with guests, owners, contractors and co-workers at all times.

18. Manage and monitor the standards of performance and work of vendors/contractors in the absence of the supervisor.

19. Comply with OCR’s policies, procedures and guidelines.

20. Perform other duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor or any other person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

1. To perform this job successfully, individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

2. High School Diploma, appropriate resort or building industry trade certification, plus relevant education and 2-3 years general maintenance experience, preferably in a resort environment.

3. Experience in general trades: plumbing, electrical, AC, carpentry, appliance repair, painting, masonry, drywall.

4. Thorough knowledge of hotel maintenance procedures, operations and equipment, including pool and wastewater treatment plant testing.

5. Self-motivated and dependable with a strong work ethic and good trouble-shooting skills.

6. Good communication skills; ability to speak, read and write fluently in English language.

7. Professional appearance and cooperative demeanor.

8. Heavy lifting, use of multiple types of electronic and manual equipment and tools, ability to work in varied weather conditions.

VACANCIES

LABOURER

MASSAGE THERAPIST

JOB VACANCY

Andaz Turks and Caicos Residences at Grace Bay is a luxury boutique hotel nestled along the shore of the world’s number one beach Grace Bay. We are seeking determined and energetic professionals who provide discreet yet personalized and attentive service that well defines the Andaz Turks and Caicos experience.

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION QUANTITY SURVEYOR MANAGER

You will be responsible for overseeing construction costing, risk assessments, pricing structure, preparing budget & cost value reports and precuring construction projects at the best interest of Andaz Turks and Caicos Residences’.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supervises management of construction projects; monitors and coordinates work performed by architectural, engineering and construction firms.

• Inspects, approves, and accepts or rejects completed projects for the company, ensuring correction of deficiencies and that work is performed to conformance of established standards.

• Leads project delivery resources/team (typically larger more experienced team) providing project guidance and direction to achieve project goals.

• Responsible for inventory management and for enhancing operational efficiency.

• Track changes in design & specifications and ensuring compliance with project standards.

• Prepares, reviews & negotiates contracts, purchase orders and REQUIREMENTS

• A minimum of bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Commerce, Quantity Surveyor or related field required.

• Certifications in Commercial Management, Quantity Surveyor or any field

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience

• Proof of completed projects in relation to hotels/resort in the past 10 years

• Work experience with a 5 star branded hotel, minimum of 2 completed project.

• Must be proficient in the use of “take off software” such as Plan-swift & Bluebeam, & Microsoft Project.

• In depth knowledge of international forms of contract including FIDIC & AIA suites

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The Turks and Caicos Islands oldest and leading publishing house is in need of additional staff to fill the following posts:

WRITERS/ PHOTO JOURNALIST

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.

FOR MAGAZINES AND OTHER PERIODICALS GRAPHICS PRODUCTION DESIGNER/ PAGINATOR

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.

COURT REPORTER

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.

ADVERTISING SPACE SALES PERSON

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.

CASHIER

LABOURER

PO BOX 329, GRACEWAY, PROVIDENCIALES

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, BRITISH WEST INDIES. TEL 649 333 5638 EMAIL: INFO@PROVOPRIMARY.COM | WEBSITE WWWPROVOPRIMARY.COM

SPANISH TEACHER

You will be responsible for teaching Spanish to children throughout the primary and middle schools. Applicants should hold a Teaching Degree and have previous experience teaching Spanish across primary and middle school phases.

Salary range is commensurate with experience, from $40,000 – $48,000 per annum based on 40 hours per week).

This position is currently held by a work permit holder.

SCIENCE TEACHER

You will be required to teach Physics, Biology and Chemistry up to IGCSE level Applicants must hold a Teaching Degree or similar teaching qualification. You must have five years’ experience working within a British National Curriculum School.

Salary range is commensurate with experience, from $40,000 – $48,000 per annum based on 40 hours per week).

This position is currently held by a work permit holder .

PE/ICT TEACHER

You will be required to teach Computer Science and Physical Education across primary and middle school phases. Applicants must hold a Teaching Degree or similar teaching qualification. You must have five years’ experience working within a British National Curriculum School.

Salary range is commensurate with experience, from $40,000 – $48,000 per annum based on 40 hours per week)

This position is currently held by a work permit holder.

CLASS TEACHER

Your responsibiities wi nclude caring for, plannng for and teachng a class of primary school age children. Applicants must hold a Teaching Degree n Primary Education or smilar teaching qualification. You must have at least two years’ experience working within a British National Curriculum School. Salary range s commensurate with experience, posts of responsibility and qualifications, from $ 40,000 - $48,000 per annum based on 40 hours per week).

This position is currently held by a work permit holder.

TEACHING ASSISTANTS

Your responsibiities wi nclude supporting the classroom teacher in caring for, preparing for and teaching a class of Early Years or primary school age chidren. Applicants must have experience working in a primary school or in an Early Years environmen t and/or hold an Early Childhood Certificate. Salary range is commensurate with experience, posts of responsibility and qualifications, from $21,000 - $26,000 per annum based on 40 hours per week).

This position is currently held by a work permit holder.

We invite prospective applicants who are Turks Islanders to send copies of their applications to Providenciales Primary & Middle School and to The Immigration Board

Please send a full resume, letter of application, certificates and police check, together with the names and phone numbers of two referees, to Toby Barkworth-Knight at toby.bk@provoprimary.com The closing date for applications is 23rd

BARTENDER

H2O life.style.resort is looking for well-rounded professionals to provide bar services at its luxury resort. We are seeking to fulfil two positions at our beachfront bar, a full and a part time position.

This role requires a range of duties, including but not limited to, providing drinks, responsible for inventory, reporting daily sales, and bar purchases.

The applicant must have a minimum 3-year experience in a similar position, should be familiar with all cocktail recipes, bar cleaning & maintenance and have good time management skills.

Must be fluent in English and have good communication skills. A valid driver license is required.

QUALITY FOOD WORLD

Five Cays Road, Providenciales TCI Tel# 941-7937 Is now hiring:

STORE CLERKS

• Welcoming customers, showing items and making recommendations

• Attending to customer queries, requests, and complaints

• Packing shelves, arranging promotion displays.

• Handling deliveries and unpacking the new stock

• Assisting in stock takes and keeping store rooms organized and tidy

• Promoting products and informing clients about deals and specials

• Ability to stand, bend, twist, reach, push, pull and regularly lift 25 lbs., and occasionally lift 50lbs.

• Availability on work nights, weekends, and holidays.

• Wages start at $8.00 per hour.

• For first time work permit holder

JANITORS

• General cleaning of the building and keeping it maintained.

• Collect and dispose of trash.

• Complete tasks in a timely manner with minimal supervision.

• Keep cleaning supplies in stock.

• Ability to manage your time efficiently.

• Ability to lift at least 25 pounds.

• Able to work safely with a variety of cleaning supplies.

• Wages start at $8.00 per hour.

• For work permit renewal and first time work permit holder

LABOURERS

• Responsible for doing Manual work

• Loading and unloading Container

• Assisting in stocking shelves

• Should be physically fit to lift products 50lbs. or more.

• Being able to work at heights

• Committed to work flexible hours, days, nights, weekends and holidays.

• Salary starts at $8.00 per hour.

• For Work permit renewal and first time work permit holder

RENTAL/SALES ASSOCIATE

KVANAR LTD

is seeking a

SENIOR ESTIMATOR

POSITION OVERVIEW

Management of all construction Estimating and Tendering activities, responsible for overseeing the preparation and development of all Tender proposals based on company standard procedure. Liaising with the Managing Director regarding all work winning strategies and initiating the initial procurement of any secured projects. Develop all necessary procedures and processes to ensure the Tendering and Procurement departments operate efficiently and effectively in order to achieve their objectives.

To contribute to the development of the company’s corporate strategy and to lead, motivate & develop the Estimating and Procurement Team and to develop and maintain relationships with key Clients and other relevant bodies to maximise the company’s potential.

CORE JOB FUNCTIONS

• Conduct Initial tender document studies, identify the tender requirements, and conduct initial tender risk review with management for taking the decision to participate in the tender.

• Assign responsibilities and finalise the actions required for the preparation of the tender as per the tender requirements.

• Manage the process and ensure the assigned responsibilities are being performed as planned such as site visits, pre/mid bid meetings, tender queries/clarifications, requesting and receiving of quotations/prices from suppliers/subcontractors, quantity take offs etc.

• Organise and conduct interim tender review meetings with management to re-assess the information with focus on the specific Tender strategy.

• Review and verify the procurement packages, quotations from suppliers/subcontractors both technically and commercially and in line with the scope of work and Tender/Project requirements.

• Review and analyse all components of the cost estimate, and advise management of discounts and mark-up to complete the estimate.

• Identify risks and risk mitigation to be included within the estimated price or qualify the risk items in the tender.

• Prepare the ‘Bid Finalisation’ for final management review and adjudication along with details and backups of the estimate bu ild- up.

• Attend and chair the Tender adjudication

meeting to agree the final Tender strategy and Tender Sum.

• Ensure the preparation and submission of the bid including the priced BoQ, Commercial and Technical Tender clarifications incorporating the decisions of the Tender adjudication meeting within the tender final closing date.

• Receive and manage responses for post tender clarifications and conduct value engineering exercises where required.

• Conduct/conclude all post-tender negotiations with management.

• On award of Contract(s) organise, conduct and chair the Tender handover meetings with the Operations/Project Management Team.

• Conduct review meetings with both the Estimating and Operations team in order to identify the reasons for major deviations from the tender figure and the new figure agreed during IFC and Contract Document review.

• Establish and maintain the procurement plan for the initial buy-out of project materials and placing of subcontract orders.

• Assist with the joint procurement process (i.e. Contractor/Client expenditure of Project Provisional Sums).

• Record the lessons learnt and maintain a cost database with KPI’s for reference and feedback for future Tenders.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE NEEDED:

• Hold a minimum of 15 years experience in the field of construction estimation, biding and tendering. Caribbean and remote project Experience an Asset.

• Have a concise understanding of all construction materials and methodology.

• Excellent written and oral skills and advanced experience in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Take Off and Candy (CCS) Estimating Software.

• Must have the ability to easily read and understand construction drawings & plans and provide detailed take offs and bills of quantities for pricing from the same and have a good understanding of physical construction schedules.

• Be highly skilled and experienced in building up construction rates from first principles (not relying upon historic rates).

• Employee must be fluent in written and oral English.

Salary $90,000 per annum, plus company Cell Phone. Annual Bonus Scheme Offered based upon Employee and Company Performance.

BABYSITTER

DOMESTIC WORKER

HOUSEKEEPER

a

Hourly

KVANAR LTD

PROCUREMENT / PURCHASING OFFICER FOR

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE NEEDED:

• Hold a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the purchasing of construction materials ranging from rough/first fix materials to finish/ final fix items.

• Have a concise understanding of all construction materials including, but not limited to, lumber & masonry products, windows, doors, hardware, appliances, cabinetry, electrical & plumbing materials, tiles, drywall, paint etc.

• Excellent written and oral skills and advanced experience in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Plan swift (or equivalent) and able to create detailed purchasing schedules, financial analysists, procurement programs, take offs and reports.

• Must have the ability to easily read and understand construction drawings & plans and provide detailed take offs from the same and have a good understanding of physical construction schedules.

• Be willing to seek out new suppliers, negotiate competitive pricing and assist the office with purchase orders and monthly construction claims.

• Have experience in shipping logistics, preparing all necessary documentation to ship, receive and inventory materials ordered.

• Extensive experience in design build projects would be an asset as the employee will work closely with the design department in the development of future projects.

• Employee must be fluent in written and oral English. Other written and oral languages would be an asset (in particular French and Spanish).

• Salary Range Dependant on Individuals Qualifications and Experience, plus company Cell Phone. Annual Bonus Scheme Offered based upon Employee and Company Performance.

• Please email résumé and covering letter to info@kvanar.com and also deliver a copy to our main office at the following address: 390 Leeward Highway, Long Bay, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands (Tel 649 333 2210).

• Islanders applying for this position are encouraged, in addition to providing a copy of their resume and covering letter to the company, to provide the same to the TCIG Labor Board & Immigration Board for consideration.

• Applicants should be aware that one of the requirements of the interview for this position will be for the candidate to provide a live demonstration of their ability to read construction drawings, operate take off software and produce associated schedules.

LOGISTICS SUPERVISOR

• Ensure

• Develop and initiate monthly reports of the fleet.

• Lead training for car washer and dispatchers.

• Establish and manage relations with vehicle maintenance team and body repair.

• Oversee and monitor availability of car

•

•

for this position are encouraged, in addition to providing a copy of their resume and covering letter to the company, to provide the same to the TCIG Labor Board & Immigration Board for consideration.

SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Qualification in accounting or bookkeeping essential. Experience of QuickBooks and Office Management beneficial.

• Duties in respect of services to clients:

• Preparation and maintenance of primary accounting records and key reconciliations

• Preparation of payroll records

• Preparation of bank deposits and bank payments

• Development and maintenance of orderly financial filing systems

• Compilation and provision of financial reports Salary range: $25,000 - $40,000 per annum

PROJECT MANAGER

Ensures all projects, initiatives, and processes are in conformance with the organization's established policies and objectives. Demonstrates expertise in the planning, scheduling, budgeting, costing, quality, and production control. Excellent leadership, communication, and supervisory skills, including experience working with all levels of

collaborate with external partners to meet deadlines as required to meet project schedule. 10+ years of construction/ project management experience. Competent in the use of Microsoft Project,

2 CASHIERS

CLERK LABOURER

SITE SERVICE TECHNICIAN

SITE SUPERVISOR

GARDENER

NANNY

Caring

SECURITY OFFICER

•

•

•

•

•

•

stains, stuck on debris;

• Clean rooms, closets, fans, drawers, removing all dust, stains, stuck on debris;

• Clean properly and thoroughly to showcase a new clean site for habitation;

• Other duties as assigned.

CLEANER

SENIOR TRUST OFFICER

We are looking for an experienced Trust professional who has at least 10 years’ experience in a fast-paced international Trust business. Multijurisdictional experience preferred.

Coriats use the Viewpoint client and accounting system, so real and substantial experience of using Viewpoint (version 7) is essential for the role, and applicants will be required to demonstrate their abilities with Viewpoint as part of the application process.

The role will require experience of managing a team, and working to tight deadlines with international clients and institutions, as well as a strong awareness and significant practical experience of modern Trust legislation and Trustee compliance issues, especially AML, ATED, US and UK FATCA, and CRS.

The applicant will also be expected to be financially literate, and able to support the Finance Director and Managing Director in managing performance targets for the business. The applicant should also have some practical knowledge and understanding of accounting, investments and subscription agreements.

Applicants must have the TEP qualification, and significant experience in a large international trust company. Being part of a STEP committee would be an asset. Salary will be according to experience, but will be competitive with other international finance centers, and in a range from US$85,000.00 TO US$120,000.00.

QUALIFIED TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT LETTERS OF INTEREST AND DETAILED QUALIFICATIONS TO OFFICE@CORIATS.COM AS WELL AS THE LABOUR COMMISSIONER MARKED ‘SENIOR TRUST OFFICER’ AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 31ST JULY, 2024. This position is currently held by a work permit holder.

NOTICE

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.

MAINTENANCE WORKER SITE

CO-ORDINATOR

Oversee daily operations ensuring safety for staff and visitors, ensuring all tasks are completed in a timely and efficient manner. Briefing team on job performance, writing weekly progress reports / $3500 monthly

WATCHMAN

JOB VACANCY INTERNATIONAL PROJECT ENGINEER

The project engineer will be responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and completion of construction projects in line with international standards. Their responsibilities include coordinating with architects, engineers, and contractors to ensure that the design specifications, budget, and timeline are met. They manage resources, handle logistics, and ensure compliance with safety regulations. Additionally, they resolve any technical issues that arise, facilitate communication between international stakeholders, and ensure that the project adheres to the highest quality standards. Their role is crucial in ensuring the successful delivery of the luxury hotel project.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• The position of International Project Engineer consists of, but is not limited to, the following tasks and performances:

• Participate in project transfer meetings and shall consolidate project information into management form.

• Distribute the information to other members of the Daily Operations Team as required.

• Fully understand the project details and material requirements for the successful production process required to complete the project.

• Shall assist in obtaining, documenting and coordinating to the Operations Team, details that relate to shop production, material requirements and scheduling for the project.

• Assist in setting and managing the production schedule.

• Shall be responsible for the schedule coordination with the Installation Team.

• Ensure installation resource is compliant to CMD standards and practices.

• Develop a detailed project installation plan to track progress onsite.

• Use appropriate verification techniques to manage changes in project conditions compared to drawings and specifications.

• Measure project installation performance using appropriate systems, tools and techniques.

• Report and escalate to management as needed.

• Perform risk management to minimize project installation risks and injuries.

• Perform on site VIF and coordination documentation from the site to the Operations Team.

• Create and maintain other comprehensive project documentation. Requirements

• A minimum of bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related field required.

• Certifications in Project Management or any field

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience

• Proof of completed projects in relation to hotels/resort in the past 10 years Salary: $90k to $120k per annum based on qualifications and experience.

LABOURER

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!

MARKETING & SALES SUPERVISOR

CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGER

Job Grade: 7.1

Annual Salary: $61,100 – $97,050

The Client Relationship Manager – Dual Role is responsible for contributing to the profitable growth and quality of the Bank’s Commercial portfolio in the Mid -Market segment focusing on the cross-sell, up-sell, and retention of existing commercial customers. This includes meeting financial objectives related to the profitable growth and retention of your individual assigned portfolio. He/she conducts sales planning and fulfills the execution of services for existing customer base. Incumbent has primary responsibility for analysis and completion of credit applications for diverse industry segments by using standardized products and processes. Contributes to the overall success of the Corporate & Commercial Department in the Turks and Caicos ensuring specific individual goals, plans, initiatives are executed / delivered in support of the team’s business strategies and objectives. Ensures all activities conducted are in compliance with governing regulations, internal policies and procedures.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Champions a customer focused culture to deepen client relationships and leverage broader Bank relationships, systems and knowledge.

• Ensures all aspects of assigned relationships receive ongoing attention, as required to maintain, improve, grow and retain the relationship

• Contributes to the profitable development of Commercial Credit business

• Promotes the development and profitable growth of the commercial banking portfolio

• Ensures the accurate communication of the terms and conditions of an authorization and supervises implementation

• Safeguards the Bank’s assets and liabilities

• Executes the unit Compliance responsibilities

• Understand how the Bank’s risk appetite and risk culture should be considered in day-to-day activities and decisions.

• Actively pursues effective and efficient operations of their respective areas, while ensuring the adequacy, adherence to and effectiveness of day-to-day business controls to meet obligations with respect to operational risk, regulatory compliance risk, AML/ATF risk and conduct risk, including but not limited to responsibilities under the Operational Risk Management Framework, Regulatory Compliance Risk Management Framework, AML/ATF Global Handbook and the Guidelines for Business Conduct.

• Champions a high performance environment and implements a people strategy that attracts, retains, develops and motivates their team by fostering an inclusive work environment; communicating vison/ values/business strategy and managing succession and development planning for the team.

SKILLS REQUIRED

• Bachelors degree in Banking or Business related areas

• Excellent communication skills (oral and written)

• Excellent relationship management and negotiation skills

• Strong analytical skills

• Five (5) years work experience at supervisory level or above.

Applicants must have at least 10 years experience on large commercial projects. Duties will include electrical installations, repairs, maintenance and service calls to residential and commercial projects. Remuneration starts at $20.00 hourly depending on level of experience.

Applicant must be able to work flexible work hours and have experience with working with children from kindergarten to Grade 3.

Applicant must:

• Hold a valid teacher’s certification, diploma or degree in Education

• Special Education certification/training Compensation based on qualification and experience $1500-$2000

( SECTION 4(3) OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER STATUS ORDINANCE)

Take notice that I, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands in exercise of the powers conferred in me by Section 6(4) of the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance intend to grant a Certificate of Turks and Caicos Islander Status to Majorie Forbes Pierre by virtue of marriage to a Turks and Caicos Islander.

OPERATION CONTROL CENTRE MANAGER

TECHNICAL RECORDS OFFICER/ QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM MANAGER (QMS)

LOCATION: PROVIDENCIALES, TCI

JOB SUMMARY:

This is a technical position in which the incumbent will be responsible for the upkeep of technical documents, and the management of the quality assurance system within the Authority, and also to provide support for other technical staff in the organization from time to time.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure that all regulatory material and personnel licensing documents held by the Personnel Licensing Officer, and the Inspectorate staff are kept amended and up to date.

• Retain records as required by the various Technical Sector Heads.

• Maintain an aircraft register for all local registered aircraft.

• Maintain and amend all technical and other documents as required.

• Liaise with the procurement department on performing the purchases of specific technical publications, in order to assure manuals being purchased are updated and covered by respective contracts/ subscriptions

• To administer the QMS department, including the conduct of internal audits in the TCICAA, in accordance with the established audit schedule and relevant COPs

• To follow-up on audit findings until closure

• Maintain records and files

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish procedures to correctly incorporate changes/revisions to technical publications assigned to inventories in the master library, line maintenance, quality control, etc.

• Make amendments to the QMS document and keep current

• Responsibility for the CAA website

REQUIRED

EDUCATION/EXPERTISE/ SKILLS:

• Applicants must have minimum qualifications of 3 CXC passes or equivalent experience in a similar capacity.

• Must be computer literate and be able to organize and prioritize daily duties

• Must have training/credential in an aviation related subject

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Applicants must have at least five years’ work experience in a professional environment, in which specific, timely deliverables were mandatory.

• Applicants should have experience working with quality management system

• Must be capable of working with minimal supervision

PERSONAL QUALITIES:

• Applicant must be mature

• Applicant must be self-confident and able to project authority

• Must be capable of interacting with staff at all levels confidently and professionally

• Willingness to take personal responsibility

• Ability to Reason

• Positive attitude

• Professionalism, tactfulness, firmness and impartiality

• The personality to win the professional respect and confidence of others

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Fluent in English

• Willingness to travel locally and internationally

SALARY: $29,952.00 per annum

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: July 19th, 2024

TURKS

PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER

VACANCIES

WMW

TILE

$9-12 Hourly Install

$10

Install

RPJ

$8 Hourly

WALKY GEDEON

LABOURER

Cleaning

PEST CONTROL TECHNICIAN

• Conducting thorough inspections to identify pest problems.

• Developing and implementing effective treatment plans.

• Educating clients on pest prevention techniques.

• Maintaining accurate records of services provided.

• Salary commensurate with experience.

PUBLIC NOTICE

AND CAICOS ISLANDER STATUS APPLICATION

( SECTION 4(3) OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER STATUS ORDINANCE)

Take notice that I, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands in exercise of the powers conferred in me by Section 6(4) of the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance intend to grant a Certificate of Turks and Caicos Islander Status to Dwyane Albert Krzanowski by virtue of marriage to a Turks and Caicos Islander.

TURKS

PUBLIC NOTICE

AND CAICOS ISLANDER

STATUS APPLICATION

( SECTION 4(3) OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER STATUS ORDINANCE)

Take notice that I, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands in exercise of the powers conferred in me by Section 6(4) of the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance intend to grant a Certificate of Turks and Caicos Islander Status to Garfield Christopher Dennie by virtue of marriage to a Turks and Caicos Islander.

CONTACT:

PUBLIC NOTICE

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER STATUS APPLICATION

( SECTION 4(3) OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER STATUS ORDINANCE)

Take notice that I, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands in exercise of the powers conferred in me by Section 6(4) of the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance intend to grant a Certificate of Turks and Caicos Islander Status to Orane Andrew Cockett by virtue of marriage to a Turks and Caicos Islander.

TURKS

PUBLIC NOTICE

AND CAICOS ISLANDER STATUS APPLICATION

( SECTION 4(3) OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER STATUS ORDINANCE)

Take notice that I, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands in exercise of the powers conferred in me by Section 6(4) of the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance intend to grant a Certificate of Turks and Caicos Islander Status to Mabel Beltre Beltre Rigby by virtue of marriage to a Turks and Caicos Islander.

Science & Technology

Samsung becomes first tech giant to launch a smart ring

Samsung is hoping to lure fitness and health-tracking technology lovers with its newest wearable device - the Galaxy Ring.

It launched the device at its Galaxy Unpacked event on Wednesday as the latest addition to its ecosystem of devices it says it is “supercharging” with artificial intelligence (AI).

Smart rings, which use tiny sensors to monitor various health metrics, have up to now been a niche productthough their recent use by the England men’s football team made headlines.

It seems Samsung is

The company says its ring can be used for sleep tracking

attempting to change that, becoming the largest tech company yet to enter the smart ring market.

Ben Wood, analyst at CCS Insight, says the product choice is an “interesting bet” for Samsung, with his

PUBLIC NOTICE

company estimating that there will be a total global market of around four million smart rings in 2025.

“That is a rounding error when compared with 250 million smartwatches that are also expected to be sold,”

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER STATUS APPLICATION

( SECTION 4(3) OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER STATUS ORDINANCE)

Take notice that I, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands in exercise of the powers conferred in me by Section 6(4) of the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance intend to grant a Certificate of Turks and Caicos Islander Status to Ochel Mizaine by virtue of marriage to a Turks and Caicos Islander.

he told the BBC.

But others suggest Samsung may help make smart rings more mainstream.

“For most consumers, the smart ring from Samsung will be the first contact they will have in the smart ring, and that top of mind awareness makes a huge difference in the long-term,” says Francisco Jeronimo, analyst for market research firm IDC.

James Kitto, vice president

and head of Samsung’s mobile division in the UK & Ireland, heralded the ring’s launch as a “huge moment” for the company.

WHAT ARE SMART RINGS?

Smart rings can track health indicators such as your heart rate, sleep and menstrual cycle.

The market is currently dominated by Finnish health tech firm, Oura.

In recent years the rings

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have become a fitness tech fashion staple for celebrities such as Kim Kardashian.

With their small size and sleeker appearance, analysts say they could become the successor to smart watches like the Apple Watch and Google Pixel Watch.

Mr Kitto described Samsung’s Galaxy Ring as its “smallest and most discrete product yet, offering accurate 24/7 health, wellness and sleep tracking.”

$9.00 hr

Welcoming customers, assisting customer customers, put clothes on display and maintain the store.

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Help maintenance of home and apartment rental such as paint, plumbing repair, electrical repair, keep property clean and assist with ongoing construction.

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Science & Technology

UK’s most complete dinosaur fossil in a century reveals new species

A previously unknown species of plant-eating dinosaur roamed on an island off the south coast of England around 125 million years ago, new research has found.

The dinosaur would have been the size of a large American bison and weighed around a ton, according to Jeremy Lockwood, a doctoral researcher at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom and lead author of a study on the prehistoric creature.

Fossilised footprints found near the skeleton show the dinosaur was probably a herding animal, Lockwood said, adding: “Possibly large herds of these dinosaurs may have been thundering around if spooked by predators on the floodplains over 120 million years ago.”

The dinosaur fossil, comprising 149 bones, was discovered on the Isle of Wight in 2013 and is the most complete skeleton found in

An artist’s impression of the newly identified dinosaur species Comptonatus chasei, which was found on the Isle of Wight, off the coast of southern England

Scientists find hydrogen sulphide on a planet with glass rain

An exoplanet the size of Jupiter has long intrigued astronomers because of its scorching temperatures, screaming winds and sideways rain made of glass. Now, data from the James Webb Space Telescope has revealed another intriguing feature of the planet known as HD 189733b: It smells like rotten eggs.

Researchers studying HD 189733b’s atmosphere used Webb’s observation to spot trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide — a colorless gas that releases a strong sulfuric stench and has never been spotted beyond our solar system. The discovery advances what’s known about the potential composition of exoplanets.

The findings, compiled by a multi-institution team, were published Monday in the journal Nature.

AN ODDBALL PLANET WITH DEADLY WEATHER

Scientists first discovered HD 189733b in 2005 and later identified the gas giant as a “hot Jupiter” — a planet that has a similar chemical composition to Jupiter, the biggest planet in our solar system, but with

sizzling temperatures. Located only 64 light-years from Earth, HD 189733b is the nearest hot Jupiter that astronomers can study as the planet passes in front of its star. For that reason, it’s one of the most well-studied exoplanets.

“HD 189733 b is not only a gas giant planet, but also a ‘giant’ in the field of exoplanets because it is one of the first transiting exoplanets ever discovered,” said lead study author Guangwei Fu, an astrophysicist at Johns Hopkins University, in an email. “It is the anchor point for many of our understanding of exoplanet atmospheric chemistry and physics.”

The planet is about 10% larger than Jupiter, but much hotter because it is 13 times closer to its star than Mercury is to our sun. HD 189733b only takes about two Earth days to complete a single orbit around its star, Fu said.

That proximity to the star gives the planet a searing average temperature of 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit (926 degrees Celsius) and strong winds that send glasslike silicate particles raining sideways from high clouds around

the UK in more than a century, the research published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology said.

The bones were found by avid local fossil collector Nick Chase, who died of cancer in 2019.

“Nick had a phenomenal nose for finding dinosaur bones – he really was a modern-day Mary Anning,” Lockwood said, alluding to the famous 19th-century paleontologist, in a news release.

“He collected fossils daily in all weathers and donated them to museums. I was hoping we’d spend our dotage collecting together as we were of similar ages, but sadly that wasn’t to be the case.”

The new dinosaur species has been named Comptonatus chasei after Chase and the location where he found the skeleton, Compton Bay.

The researchers were able to determine the skeleton belonged to a new dinosaur species because of

unique features, such as its jaw and particularly large pubic hip bone.

Lockwood described the discovery as “a remarkable find,” explaining: “It helps us understand more about the different types of dinosaurs that lived in England in the Early Cretaceous.”

Mike Greenslade, general manager of the conservation charity National Trust on the Isle of Wight, praised the “extraordinary discovery.”

“Finding the most complete dinosaur in the UK in a century not only showcases the island’s palaeontological significance but also underscores the importance of preserving our landscapes for future generations to explore and learn from,” Greenslade said.

“Nick Chase’s remarkable find and Jeremy Lockwood’s dedicated research are a testament to the incredible history waiting to be uncovered here,” he added. (CNN)

The exoplanet very closely orbits its host star, which causes the planet to have a scorching surface temperature

the planet at 5,000 miles per hour (8,046 kilometers per hour).

A SURPRISING STENCH

When astronomers decided to use the Webb telescope to study the planet to see what infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye, could reveal in HD 189733b’s atmosphere, they were in for a surprise.

Hydrogen sulfide is present on Jupiter and was predicted to exist on gas giant exoplanets, but evidence of the molecule had been elusive outside our solar system, Fu said.

“Hydrogen sulfide is one of the main reservoirs of sulfur within planetary atmospheres,” Fu said. “The high precision and infrared capability from (the Webb telescope) allow us to detect hydrogen sulfide for the

first time on exoplanets, which opens a new spectral window into studying exoplanet atmospheric sulfur chemistry. This helps us to understand what exoplanets are made of and how they came to be.”

Additionally, the team spotted water, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the planet’s atmosphere, Fu said — which means these molecules could be common in other gas giant exoplanets.

While astronomers don’t expect life to exist on HD 189733b because of its scorching temperatures, detecting a building block like sulfur on an exoplanet sheds light on planet formation, Fu said.

“Sulfur is a vital element for building more complex molecules, and — like carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphate

scientists need to study it more to fully understand how planets are made and what they’re made of,” Fu said.

Molecules with distinct smells, like ammonia, have been previously detected within other exoplanet atmospheres. But Webb’s capabilities enable scientists to identify specific chemicals within atmospheres around exoplanets in greater detail than before.

PLANETARY HEAVY METALS

In our solar system, ice giants like Neptune and Uranus, though less massive overall, contain more metals than the gas giants Jupiter

Science & Technology

No HIV infections after twice-ayear PrEP

Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor, has shown 100% efficacy in preventing HIV in women at a high risk for infection, according to an interim analysis of the phase 3 PURPOSE 1 trial.

The results were so promising that the independent data monitoring committee recommended that Gilead Sciences stop the blinded phase of the trial and offer open-label lenacapavir to all participants.

The results were both unexpected and exciting. “I’ve been in the HIV field for a really long time, and there’s no other phase 3 PrEP trial that found zero infections,” said Moupali Das, MD, PhD, executive director of clinical development at Gilead Sciences, Foster City, California.

PURPOSE 1 is evaluating the safety and efficacy of two regimens — twice-yearly subcutaneous lenacapavir for preexposure prophylaxis and once-daily oral Descovy (emtricitabine 200 mg and tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg) — in women and girls aged 1625 years. The two drugs are being compared with the standard oncedaily oral Truvada (emtricitabine 200 mg and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg).

There were no cases of HIV

infection among the more than 2000 women in the lenacapavir group; in contrast, the incidence of HIV in the Descovy group was 2.02 per 100 person-years and in the Truvada group was 1.69 per 100 person-years.

The background incidence of HIV, one of the primary endpoints of the trial, was 2.41 per 100 person-years with lenacapavir. All the drugs were shown to be safe and well tolerated, and the full interim data from the trial will be released at an upcoming conference, according to Das.

NO NEW CASES

The medical community is “thrilled” with the results so far, said Monica Gandhi, MD, director of the UCSF-Gladstone Center for AIDS Research. “We have to wait for the full data, but so far, it has been 100% effective and far superior to other treatments.”

Gandhi said she is waiting to see more details on side effects and tolerability, as well as discontinuation rates in the trial and the reasons people dropped out. For example, lenacapavir tends to cause nodules to form under the skin, which are the depots from which the drug is released over the course of 6 months. Gandhi said she is interested in whether any

Lenacapavir is a twice-yearly injectable HIV-1 capsid inhibitor

participants found them bothersome enough to discontinue the treatment.

The global HIV epidemic is still ongoing, with 1.3 million new infections in 2022, and existing oral PrEP options, and even the longacting injectable cabotegravir, have so far failed to make as much of a dent in infection rates as hoped, said Gandhi. “We’ve been waiting for another option.”

The twice-yearly lenacapavir shot is easy and convenient to administer compared with oral PrEP. Many people — especially younger individuals such as those enrolled in PURPOSE 1 — find it difficult to remember to take the pills every day.

A DISCREET OPTION

Many participants in the trial said that they were uncomfortable with the stigma that can be attached to HIV PrEP. They did not want people to see the pill bottle in their house or hear it rattling in their purse. So an injection given just twice a year in a doctor’s office is attractive.

“This is a discrete option. People were very excited about the privacy and not having to take daily pills,” said Das. “PrEP only works if you take it.”

Better adherence to the treatment regimen is likely one reason that lenacapavir outperformed oral

PrEP. But lenacapavir also has a unique mechanism of action as a multistage viral capsid inhibitor, Das said. It targets the capsid both before and after the virus integrates into the nucleus, which could be another reason for its potency.

Although the results are encouraging, there is still some concern about how accessible the drug will be, especially in low- and middle-income countries where the burden of HIV is the highest. “No one has any clue on how Gilead plans to make this accessible,” said Gandhi.

ACCESS ISSUES

The company has not signed up for the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) to allow companies to manufacture generic formulations of lenacapavir, which Gandhi said is the traditional route to provide cheaper alternatives in poorer countries. The “disastrous” roll out of injectable cabotegravir, which is still not widely available in lowerincome countries, is a worrying precedent, she said.

Gilead Sciences confirmed that all 5300 participants in the PURPOSE 1 study will have the option to continue receiving lenacapavir until the drug is generally available in their country. The company has committed to ensuring a dedicated Gilead

Sciences supply in the countries where the need is the greatest until voluntary licensing partners are able to supply high-quality, lowcost versions of lenacapavir.

And rather than going through the third-party MPP, Gilead Sciences is negotiating a voluntary licensing program directly with other partners to supply generic versions of the drug in poorer countries.

Lenacapavir is already approved for the treatment of multidrug-resistant HIV but is not yet approved for HIV prevention. A sister trial, PURPOSE 2, is ongoing and is testing lenacapavir in men who have sex with men and in transgender men, transgender women, and nonbinary individuals who have sex with partners assigned male at birth. Should those results, expected by the end of 2024 or early 2025, be positive, the company will move forward with regulatory filings for lenacapavir PrEP.

Three other trials are also ongoing. PURPOSE 3 and PURPOSE 4 are smaller US-based studies of women and people who inject drugs, and PURPOSE 5 is enrolling people at a high risk for HIV in France and the United Kingdom to provide European data for European regulators. (Medscape)

Personalised vaccines are to be offered to cancer patients as part of a NHS trial.

The Royal Wolverhampton Trust (RWT) is one of 30 trusts in England to sign up to the trial, which is part of NHS England’s new Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP).

RWT is aiming to refer two patients to the programme per month.

Sarah Glover, from the trust, said it was an exciting and innovative programme which offered opportunities for patients to take part in ground-breaking trials for cancer treatment.

The developmental vaccines are created by analysing a patients’ tumour, to identify mutations specific to their own cancer.

Using this information,

doctors create an experimental individualised “cancer vaccine.”

These are designed to induce an immune response that may prevent cancer from returning.

The vaccines, which are being developed by biopharmaceutical companies BioNTech and Genentech, are still being trialled, and have not yet been approved by regulators. (BBC)

Science & Technology

Ancient DNA reveals possible cause of mysterious population collapse

5,000 years ago

The oldest known plague victims date back to around 5,000 years ago in Europe. But it’s never been clear whether two cases, one in Latvia and one in Sweden, were isolated and sporadic or evidence of a wider outbreak.

A new study, based on ancient DNA recovered from 108 prehistoric individuals unearthed at nine grave sites in Sweden and Denmark, suggests that an ancient form of the plague might have been widespread among Europe’s first farmers and could explain why this population mysteriously collapsed over the space of 400 years.

“It’s fairly consistent across all of Northern Europe, France and it’s in Sweden, even though there are some quite big differences in the archaeology, we still see the same pattern, they just disappear,” said Frederik Seersholm, a postdoctoral researcher at the Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen in Denmark and lead

author of the study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday.

This group, known as Neolithic farmers, migrated from the eastern Mediterranean, replacing small bands of hunter-gatherers and bringing agriculture and a settled lifestyle to northwestern Europe for the first time around 6,000 to 7,000 years ago. Their legacy lives on in the continent’s many megalithic graves and monuments, the most famous of which is Stonehenge.

Archaeologists intensely debate the cause of this population’s disappearance between 5,300 and 4,900 years ago. Some attribute their demise to an agricultural crisis brought on by climate change and others suspect disease.

“All of a sudden, there’s no people getting buried (at these monuments) anymore. And the people who were responsible for building these megaliths (are gone),” Seersholm said.

Violence was unlikely to have played a role, Seersholm said,

Scientists find hydrogen sulphide on a planet ...

and Saturn, which are the largest planets, suggesting there could be a correlation between metal content and mass.

Astronomers believe that more ice, rock and metals — rather than gases like hydrogen and helium — were involved in the formation of Neptune and Uranus.

Webb’s data also showed levels of heavy metals on HD 189733b that are similar to those found on Jupiter.

“Now we have this new measurement to show that indeed the metal concentrations (the planet) has provide a very important anchor point to this study of how a planet’s composition varies with its mass and radius,” Fu said.

remains unearthed at this Neolithic

Sweden, yielded some of the ancient DNA samples used in the study

with the next wave of newcomers, known as the Yamnaya, arriving from the Eurasian steppe after a gap in the archaeological record.

The study found that forms of the bacterium that causes plague were present in 1 in 6 ancient samples, suggesting infection with the disease was not rare.

“These plague cases, they are dated to exactly the time frame where we know the Neolithic decline happened so this is very strong circumstantial evidence that the plague might have been involved in this population collapse,” he said.

GENETIC TIME TRAVEL

Genetic information about pathogens can be preserved in human DNA, allowing scientists to time travel to find out about ancient diseases and how they evolved.

“The findings support our understanding of how planets form through creating more solid material after initial core formation and then are naturally enhanced with heavy metals.”

Now, the team will search for sulfur signatures on other exoplanets and determine whether high concentrations of the compound influence how closely some planets form in relation to their host stars.

“HD 189733b is a benchmark planet, but it represents just a single data point,” Fu said. “Just as individual humans exhibit unique characteristics, our collective behaviors follow clear trends and patterns. With more datasets from Webb to come, we aim to understand how planets form and if our solar system is unique in the galaxy.” (CNN)

Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes plague, was the most prevalent of the six pathogens the identified in the new research, present in 18 individuals, or 17% of the 108 sampled.

However, according to the study, the true prevalence of the plague at that time could have been much higher given that ancient DNA can only be extracted from well-preserved human remains. (It’s also not possible to know for sure whether the people studied died of the plague — only that they were infected.)

Nonetheless, the study authors said their findings did not necessarily suggest a swift and deadly plague epidemic. The bacterium was detected in remains from four out of six generations buried at some of the grave sites.

“I was expecting to find that the plague was only present in the last generation, which would be evidence that the plague is killing them all, and that was it,” Seersholm said, who pieced together family trees from the graves using the

ancestry information contained in the ancient DNA.

“I was also expecting the plague to be exactly the same, like every single DNA base pair would be the exact same, because that’s what you would expect if you saw a swift outbreak of disease, but that was not what we found,” he said.

Instead, the team found evidence of three distinct infection events, plus different variants of the bacterium that causes plague.

“The big question is, then, how come the plague didn’t just kill everyone in the beginning? And that was also puzzling to us, so we started looking at the genes to see if we could find some sort of explanation,” he said.

The team found instances where plague genes had reshuffled — lost, added or moved around in the DNA sequences — which could perhaps have affected the virulence of the pathogen in the span of a generation.

“It’s in an area of the genome where we know that virulence is coded for, and (that’s) the reason that our hypothesis is that it was more virulent (over the generations),” Seersholm said.

“But of course, this is, this is very, very hard to test, because you can’t really just grow an ancient (bacterium).”

PREHISTORIC PLAGUE’S TRANSMISSION

Given that the remains had been carefully buried in a grave, Seersholm said it is possible that the genetic data examined in the study captured the very beginning of a plague epidemic. It’s also likely that the disease was less severe than the bubonic plague that caused the Black Death, the world’s most devastating plague outbreak that is estimated to have killed half of Europe’s population

in the space of seven years during the Middle Ages.

What’s more, because the variants detected in the samples lacked a gene that geneticists know is crucial for the bacterium’s survival in a flea’s digestive tract, the resulting disease was unlikely to be identical to bubonic plague, which was spread by fleas carried by rodents, according to the study. Bubonic plague still exists today, and symptoms include painful, swollen lymph nodes, called buboes, in the groin, armpit or neck areas, as well as fever, chills and coughing.

The study suggests that in Scandinavia at that time, plague was probably being spread human to human rather than by sporadic transmission from animals, although it’s not possible to know how lethal or chronic the disease was, said Mark Thomas, a professor of evolutionary genetics at University College London.

However, Thomas, who wasn’t involved in the latest research but was part of the team that first identified the Neolithic decline, said he’s less convinced that plague was the main reason behind the wider population bust, which he said happened at different times in Europe and was likely a result of a combination of factors, including poor farming practices that exhausted the soil and widespread ill health.

“Neolithic people were very compromised in terms of general health. Their bones look bad,” Thomas said.

“There could have been a more general increase in pathogen load,” he added. However, “from a DNA point of view” Yersinia pestis happens to be one of the diseases more visible to archaeological scientists and thus easier to identify and study. (CNN)

Human

grave at Karleby in Falbygden,

Sports International

Mahuchikh and Kipyegon break world records in Paris

World champions Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Faith Kipyegon produced world-record-breaking performances within an hour of each other at the Meeting de Paris – part of the Wanda Diamond League – on Sunday (7).

Mahuchikh took down one of the longest-standing world records on the books, clearing 2.10m to win the high jump. Kipyegon, meanwhile, revised her own world record with 3:49.04 in the 1500m in what turned out to be one of the deepest races of all time.

Ukrainian high jumper

Mahuchikh saw off the challenge of world indoor champion Nicola Olyaslagers, who had matched Mahuchikh at 2.01m, both women clearing it on their second attempts.

Australia’s Olyslagers failed three times at 2.03m, but Mahuchikh got over it on her second try.

With victory secured, Mahuchikh moved the bar up to 2.07m and once again cleared it on her second jump, doing so with room to spare to set a Ukrainian record. She then had the bar raised to 2.10m – one centimetre higher

England on ‘brink of history’ - Lineker

Former England striker Gary Lineker says Gareth Southgate’s side are on the “brink of history” after reaching the Euro 2024 final.

The Three Lions beat the Netherlands 2-1 in Dortmund on Wednesday night to book a spot in Sunday’s final against Spain.

It is the first time the men’s side have reached a final outside England after playing the 1966 World Cup final and 2021 Euro final at Wembley, while the women’s Euro victory in 2022 came on home soil.

England’s men have never won the European Championship, with their World Cup win in 1966 their only major silverware, while Spain are three-time European champions.

“I think it’s hugely significant for English football,” Lineker, who will present BBC One’s coverage of the final on Sunday, told BBC Sport.

“They were in a final, they were in the last final of the Euros, of

course, and that was at Wembley, and that ended up in huge disappointment [losing to Italy on penalties].

“This is going to be tough, it’s going to be difficult, but they’re on the brink of history. No English team in football has ever won a major tournament abroad.”

The closest a senior England team have come to winning a major tournament outside of England was in 2023, when the Lionesses were beaten by Spain in the World Cup final in Australia.

Xavi Simons gave the Netherlands an early lead in Dortmund on Wednesday but Harry Kane equalised from the penalty spot midway through the first half before Ollie Watkins scored the winner in the 90th minute.

Watkins’ winner was England’s fourth goal of the tournament scored past the 80th minute, including extra time.

“They have got that kind of

than the world record set by Stefka Kostadinova at the 1987 World Championships – and cleared it on her first try.

“Coming into this competition, I had feelings that I could jump 2.07m and maybe 2.10m,” said Mahuchikh. “Finally I signed Ukraine to the history of world athletics.”

Less than an hour after Mahuchikh’s iconic leap, Kipyegon made history on the track.

Returning to the scene of her record-breaking mark over 5000m last year, Kipyegon broke her own world 1500m record in the final

race of the evening.

The early pace was swift, with Kipyegon covering 800m in 2:04 as Australia’s Jess Hull positioned herself just a stride behind the multiple world and Olympic champion. With the pacemakers having dropped out, Kipyegon covered the third lap in 60.8 seconds and continued to increase her pace.

She kicked at the bell and opened up a gap over Hull, striding clear to win in 3:49.04, taking 0.07 off the world record she set last year in Florence. Hull finished

second in 3:50.83, smashing her own Oceanian record to move to fifth on the world all-time list.

Laura Muir was third in a British record of 3:53.79, and for the first time ever, 12 women finished inside four minutes.

“I knew the world record was possible because I recently ran very fast in Kenya,” said Kipyegon, who clocked 3:53.98 at Kenya’s Olympic Trials. “I was coming here to just run my race and to see what shape I’m in to defend my title at the Olympics.” (Worldathletics.org)

never-say-die attitude, which is something that is hugely important,” said Lineker, who scored 48 goals in 80 appearances for England.

“Even when they weren’t playing great, they were grinding out results. And it’s an old football cliche that if you can win when you play badly, then things are not that bad.”

Spain have been in the eyes of

many observers the outstanding team in Germany this summer and are favourites heading into Sunday’s final.

After a slow start, England have found some rhythm in the knockout stages and the win against the Netherlands was their best display of the tournament so far.

“I don’t really think I’m surprised at how we have done it, because we’ve got the individuals,

world-class footballers right across the pitch,” Lineker continued.

“Yes, they started slowly and something wasn’t quite right about things but they’ve worked it out and they’ve got gradually better as the tournament progressed. It’s much better that way round.”

So, is football coming home?

“I’m banning that statement,” said Lineker. “It’s been bad luck for so long.” (BBC)

Faith Kipyegon revised her world record in the 1500m

Yaroslava Mahuchikh took down one of the longest-standing world records on the books

Gary Lineker was capped 80 times by England

Sports International

‘Emotional, cruel, euphoric’ - the incredible semi-final

It was a record-breaking semi-final Wimbledon will not forget.

Two hours and 51 minutes of brilliant sporting drama as Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini defeated unseeded Donna Vekic 2-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8) in the longest women’s semi-final in the tournament’s history.

Paolini had never won a match here before July. She has now won six in a row, but none more nervewracking than this.

After losing a bruising opening set, Paolini was in trouble. At 4-3 and a break down in the final set, Vekic was two games from glory, despite being hampered by an injury to her right arm.

Paolini fought back and had two match points as the rollercoaster contest entered a match tie-break.

Then in a thrilling 10-point tie-break, Paolini trailed 3-1, 6-5 and 8-7 but, to the delight

of a thrilled Centre Court, the hugely popular Italian, with a never-say-die attitude, sealed a remarkable win.

“It’s incredible when you’re able to witness two athletes giving their absolute all, leaving everything on the court,” said 2021 champion Ash Barty on BBC TV.

“The uncertainty, the unpredictability of sport - it can be crushing but it can be so euphoric as well, and that’s what we’ve seen.

“It has to be exhausting going through that emotional rollercoaster.

“On one side of the net it’s the crushing defeat, it’s demoralising and then for Jasmine Paolini it’s the euphoria of being in a Wimbledon final. Sport is cruel, isn’t it?”

Cruel. Enthralling. Unmissable. Remarkable.

The fans were captivated, and rightly so. Paolini had destroyed

Emma Navarro in 58 minutes, with the American only picking up three games in their quarter-final.

But Thursday’s thriller was women’s tennis at its finest.

“The way these women fought - they both showed their emotions more than most players,” said ninetime Wimbledon singles champion Martina Navratilova.

“That’s what gets this crowd excited to see the players love the sport so much, want it so badly and to be so happy and so depressed, and come back again.”

Even the most ardent of Paolini supporters would have felt sympathy for Vekic, aiming to become the first player from Croatia to reach the women’s

I thought it was never going to happen again

Lewis Hamilton has had to wait for it, but he finally had his moment of redemption at the British Grand Prix and returned to the top step of a Formula 1 podium - two years, seven months and two days since he last stood there.

In doing so, he broke the record for wins at a single track, and did it in front of his home crowd and his family.

“I can’t stop crying,” he said straight after climbing out of his car. Later, he said: “That might be the most emotional ending to a race I think I have probably ever had.”

To understand those tears, you have to consider what Hamilton has been through in that period.

His last victory was at the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as his fierce title fight with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen came to a dramatic climax.

A week later, in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton lost the chance to win a record eighth championship after the then race director, Michael Masi, made up the rules as he went along in a late safety-car period.

Over the winter that followed, Hamilton thought about walking away from the sport. Instead, he came back determined to right what he perceived as a wrong, a title that he felt was robbed from

him. Only to find that his Mercedes team - after eight consecutive world constructors’ titles - had lost their way following the introduction of new rules.

In the 945 days between his last win and this one, Hamilton said on Sunday, he had doubted himself; doubted, too, whether another victory would ever come.

“The adversity we have gone through as a team and I have personally experienced,” he said, “the constant challenge, like we all have, to get out of bed every day

and give it your best shot.

“So many times when you feel like your best shot is not good enough, and the disappointment sometimes you can feel.

“We live in a time when mental health is such a serious issue and I am not going to lie (and deny) that I have experienced that.

“There have definitely been moments between 2021 and here when I didn’t feel like I was good enough, or I thought it was never going to happen again. I have never cried coming from a win. It just

came out of me. It is a really great feeling and I am really grateful for it.”

Over the past two years, with a few exceptions, he has generally avoided talking about Abu Dhabi and its impact on him. But this time he let it out.

“Honestly, when I came back in 2022, I thought that I was over it,” Hamilton said. “And I know I wasn’t, and it’s taken a long time to heal that kind of feeling. That’s only natural for anyone that has that experience. I’ve just been

singles final.

As the match slipped from her grasp, and with the pain from her arm injury driving her to tears, Vekic continued to give everything.

It will be a difficult defeat to take but, when the pain, physically and mentally, eases her best-ever Slam run could be one that changes the course of her career.

- Hamilton

continuing to try and work on myself and find that inner peace day by day.”

The emotions at Silverstone were so intense because so many aspects of his life journey had come together at once. Not just the end of a long, long win drought.

But his home grand prix, in front of a crowd that adores him and cheered his every move, even when he was fighting with another Briton, Lando Norris. On a track that he said he considered the “best in the world”.

On top of that, he is in his last season with Mercedes, who have backed him since he was 13, before he moves to Ferrari next season; his desire to end his career with them on a high.

And an appreciation of time passing, and of valuable personal moments spent with the people he loves most in the world - his father, mother, brother, sister and her children were all at Silverstone with him.

“Your parents are getting older, you know. We’re travelling so much,” Hamilton said. “Time with family is a constant challenge. My niece and nephew are growing up and growing out of their cuteness. But I’ve had them here this weekend.

Jasmine Paolini (left) and Donna Vekic both went through a range of emotions during their Wimbledon semi-final on Thursday

Hamilton has won a record nine times at Silverstone, and has a straight named after him

Sports International

F1 announces six sprint races venues for 2025

Formula 1 has announced the six grands prix which will host events in the sprint format in 2025.

The races, which feature a shorter race on the Saturday before the main event on the Sunday, start with the second grand prix of the season in China on 21-23 March.

The others are Miami on 2-4 May, Belgium on 25-27 July, the US Grand Prix in Austin on 17-19 October, Brazil on 7-9 November and the penultimate race in Qatar on 28-30 November.

China, Miami, Austin, Brazil and Qatar are also sprint events on this year’s schedule.

Belgium hosted a sprint previously in 2023.

The 2025 F1 season starts in Australia on 14-16 March.

F1 has also released data to demonstrate that audiences are higher for sprint events than for grands prix run to the standard format, which sees two practice

sessions on Friday, followed by one on Saturday before qualifying and then the race.

A statement said that live audience figures for the sprint in qualifying and sprint in China this year were 40% higher across F1’s top 15 markets compared to the average practice sessions for the opening two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

F1 chairman Stefano Domenicali said: “The sprint has been a great success for Formula 1, bringing all our fans more action and racing on the track.

“We are seeing the proof of this in our audience data, fan attendance on Fridays and from the promoters and partners.”

F1 will mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the world championship next season and Domenicali said the sprint was “a great example of bringing new elements to our sport in a way that is respectful of the championship”.

Colombia advances to Copa América final as tempers flare post-match

Colombia advanced to the Copa América final following a 1-0 win over Uruguay at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, but the game was marred by unsavory scenes after full-time.

Jefferson Lerma scored the match’s only goal in the 39th minute as Los Cafeteros extended their unbeaten streak to 28 matches.

The match was testy and featured seven yellow cards and one red card after Colombia’s Daniel Muñoz was ejected in the first half after being shown a second yellow card.

Tempers flared even more after the match.

After the final whistle, players

Two France players arrested over sexual assault claims

Two France internationals have been arrested in Argentina after allegations a woman was sexually assaulted.

Oscar Jegou, 21, and Hugo Auradou, 20, were detained in Buenos Aires on Monday and will be transported to Mendoza.

The players’ lawyer, Rafael Cuneo Libarona, said they denied the allegation.

France are on a tour of South America.

The France squad stayed in Mendoza on Saturday following their 28-13 Test win against Argentina, during which the two players both made their international debuts.

“If the facts are proven, they are incredibly serious,” French Rugby Federation president Florian Grill said.

“We will reserve the results of the investigation.”

Martin Ahumada, a spokesperson for the Mendoza prosecutor’s office, told the AFP news agency a commission was travelling to Buenos Aires to carry out “investigative actions” and “if the results match the victim’s testimony, the indictment will be issued”.

French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said: “If the investigation establishes the alleged facts, they constitute an unspeakable atrocity.”

Oudea-Castera said she was in contact with the federation and the French embassy in Argentina.

Jegou, who plays back row for French club La Rochelle and Auradou, a lock for Pau, were both part of France’s 2023 Under-20 World Championship-winning team.

La Rochelle said in a statement on their website: “In the total absence of direct information on the ongoing procedure, the club will refrain from any comment for the moment.”

Pau also said they would await “more specific information” before commenting further.

The French Rugby Federation said Grill and vice-chairman for high performance Jean-Marc Lhermet will remain with Jegou and Auradou in Argentina, while the rest of the squad travel to

Uruguay.

France play Uruguay in Montevideo on Wednesday before returning to Buenos Aires for a second Test against Argentina. The arrests came two days after full-back Melvyn Jaminet was suspended by the federation after he posted a video on social media with a racist comment.

Jaminet, who plays for Toulon, put the video on his Instagram account after playing in the victory against Argentina.

Although Jaminet deleted the video, it was widely shared on social media and the 25-year-old was sent home from the tour.

Jaminet said he was “deeply sorry and ashamed of my comments”. (BBC)

from both squads got into it at center field before the Fox Sports 1 broadcast showed Uruguayan players entering the stands and getting into a scuffle with fans.

A ‘DISASTER’

Uruguay captain José María Giménez said after the match that players were trying to defend their families and called the incident with fans a “disaster.”

“Let me tell you something: they should have been careful because there are families in the grandstand,” Gimenez told the official broadcaster in Spanish.

“And if there is an avalanche falling over our families, those of the fans of a certain sector of

Colombia – and they don’t let me talk about this on the microphone, but I’m going to say it now because I know I can, if they don’t cut you off before.

“This is a disaster. Our families were in danger. We had to go to the grandstand to take out our loved ones carrying little newborn

babies. A disaster.

“There wasn’t a single policeman in the whole half hour. A disaster. And we were the ones showing our faces for our loved ones. Hopefully, the people organizing this will be a little more careful with the families, with the people and with the surroundings

of the stadiums, which is a disaster. “Because all games are the same. Our families are suffering because of people who drink two drinks of alcohol, don’t know how to drink and behave like children and can’t be decent. I hope they will be careful the next game and this won’t happen again because this is a disaster.”

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has won all three sprint races that have taken place so far in the 2024 season

Uruguay forward Darwin Núñez clashes with Colombia fans after the semifinal

Oscar Jegou plays his club rugby for La Rochelle

Haye-Smith finishes seventh in World Athletics Continental Tour in Hungary

TCI’s top female athlete, Yanique Haye-Smith finished seventh in the 400mh on Tuesday in the World Athletics Continental Tour Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Szekesfehervar, Hungary.

The event was won by former World Indoor Champion and Asia’s record holder Kemi Adekoya, who is representing Bahrain, in a time of 54.13s.

Haye-Smith, who was given a late opportunity to enter the event, finished just behind Sara Mato from Hungary. The TCIslander ended

her race in 56.66s to finish ahead of Vera Barbosa from Portugal in the top eight.

She said she was pumped up at the event. “Not a season best, just consistency!! I am still learning and there’s always room for improvement as I can feel the greatness in me!!! Thanks everyone who wished me luck!!”

Late last month, the ace hurdler won her heat in a time of 56.91s at the UK Athletics Championships. In the final of the event, she finished fourth.

GK Foods beat Kishco to reach cricket final

first

In the end, only Mario Smith with 14 (2x6s) and Smijo Devassy with 11 (1x4, 1x6) reached double figures, as the team folded for 73 in 14

GK Foods stormed into the final of the TCICA T20 Cricket Competition with a seven-wicket win against Kishco in their semifinal clash last weekend at the Downtown Ball Park. Kishco won the toss and opted to take first strike, but they were undone by the bowling of Rajakumar Kasi and brothers Ganesan Kuthaligam and Ariharan Kuthalingam, who combined for seven wickets. Ganesan was expensive in his

over (14 runs), but he was discipline in the next two which produced two wickets, Kasi also grabbed a pair of wickets, which devastated the Kishco batting lineup, while Ariharan finished with three scalps.

overs.

Ariharan finished with 3-20 from four overs, Ganesan 2-21

from three overs and Kasi with 2-15 from four overs. Ariharan came back with the bat to score 31 runs (6x4s), in quick time to ensure that GK Foods reached the required target in 10 overs.

Yanique Haye-Smith

GK Foods have progressed to the final of the competition

Sports National

FELIX MORLEY COMMUNITY CENTRE’S FIRST BOXING SHOWCASE A SUCCESS

The TCI Sports Commission set the impetus to grow the sport of boxing with the hosting of the first Boxing Showcase at the Felix Morley Community Centre (FMCC) in Five Cays last Saturday.

The event was a collaboration with the TCI Sports Commission and Boxing Club leaders Mr Jim Kelly Joseph and TCI Boxing legend Mr Gary Lightbourne.

Mr Joseph and Mr Lightbourne trained all fighters in the club, successfully running for six months.

According to information from the Sports Commission, the boxing club aims to mitigate juvenile delinquency, effectively

complementing Joseph’s mantra, “Gloves Up, Guns Down”.

The event featured five bouts, each fight facilitating three rounds, with each round spanning two minutes with one-minute rest.

At the showcase, there were also demonstrations of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Karate, a club hosted at the FMCC. Among the fighters were Anthony Swann, Frank, Anthony Arcena, Jackenson, Estanly, Terri, Jayden, Kenson, Marcelle and Abderlin. All fighters were presented with a medal and are anticipating a fully-fledged competition soon.

Hon Rachel Taylor, who was in attendance, said she thoroughly

enjoyed the experience. She shared, “As Minister with responsibility for Youth and Sports, it was a pleasure to be in attendance and to view the efforts of our young people, especially our young men who have dedicated their time to engage meaningfully in the sporting opportunities afforded to them at the Felix Morley Community Centre in Five Cays.

“Engaging in Boxing builds selfconfidence, promotes teamwork, reduces stress and develops one’s overall wellbeing. I am elated that we have persons within our communities who are willing to partner with us to make a positive impact on the lives of our youth.”

“The intentionality of our programme offerings at the FMCC is our aim to steer our youth in the right direction through our offerings combined with mentoring. Enforcement is not the only method to reducing crime and violence among our youth, it takes a conscientious investment through sustainable programmes.

Thanks to Mr Gary Lightbourne and Mr Jim Kelly the lead on the boxing programme for making a difference in the lives of our boys.

Looking forward to the showcasing of the other sporting disciplines that are currently being carried out at the centre. A special thanks to our Sports Commission for their

level of oversight of our initiatives being carried out at the centre in Five Cays. Together we can and together we will!”

The Felix Morley Community Centre was reopened in September 2022, under the management of the TCI Sports Commission. Since reopening, numerous clubs have been started and offered free to the youth populous including dance, yoga, basketball, karate, and rugby. Soca aerobics is also a club hosted which is offered to adults.

To learn more about the clubs on offer at the FMCC, visit the website: https://www.gov.tc/ sports/our-events/felix-morleycommunity-centre.

Jimkelly Joseph with some of the fighters alongside Hon Rachel Taylor, Director of Sports Mr Jarrett Forbes and Mr Gary Lightbourne

Action in one of the fights

Jim Kelly Joseph’s corner during one of the fights

L-r: Director of Sports Jarrett Forbes, Jimkelly Joseph, Gary Lightbourne, Hon Rachel Taylor and two of the boxers