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Scotiabank will once again host HIV Regional Testing Day

Scotiabank once again hosts its HIV Regional Testing Day in 17 islands across the Caribbean, including the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The initiative is intended to increase public participation in voluntary testing and counseling, prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and reduce the stigma around testing.

Director of the Health and Advocacy Unit, Mrs. Aldora Robinson, says partnership with the local media is critical to this event and has been one of the driving forces behind the success of the Day in the past.

Today Friday, June 30, the Turks and Caicos Islands will join the other nations across the region in supporting mass HIV testing at 3 Scotiabank locations - Cherokee Road and Grace Bay locations in Providenciales and Waterloo Plaza Grand Turk location.

Robinson said this year, they are hoping to test 500 persons during this popular annual event, and noted the support of the public is be key to making this happen.

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2017 GSAT Results

The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services commends all Grade Six students for their performance in the 2017 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) administered on Wednesday, 31st May and Thursday, 1st June. Four hundred and forty-five (445) students were registered for GSAT. Three hundred and fifty-eight (358) of these students scored 50% or higher. The pass rate for 2017 is 80.45% compared with 75.1% in 2016. The table and graph below show the pass rates for the period 2007 to 2017.

The pass rate in Mathematics and English Language increased by 7.89% and 9.99% respectively compared with the pass rates in 2016. The pass rate in Science decreased by 8.74% and there was also a decrease in the pass rate for the General Paper. Adrienne Parry of Ona Glinton Primary scored 97.6% in Mathematics, Jade Clarke of Precious Treasures scored 94% in English, Evadne Gardiner scored 99% in Science and Kaidan Bobb of Mills Institute scored 97% in the General Paper.

The Ministry congratulates the students and schools who are among the top ten in the country:

NAME OF STUDENT GENDER NAME OF SCHOOL AVERAGE
Clarke, Jade Female Precious Treasures Inter’l 94.95
Parry, Adrienne Female Ona Glinton Primary 94.67
Gardiner, Evadne Female Providence Inter’l A’demy 93.24
Simms, Talia Female Ona Glinton Primary 93.05
Forbes, Shaina Female Ona Glinton Primary 92.67
Reynoso Reyes, Dani Male Richmond Hill Prep. 91.81
Harry, Anika Female Richmond Hill Prep. 90.86
Walkin, Antwon Male Ianthe Pratt Primary 90.00
Bobb, Kaidan Male Mills Institute 90.00
Swann, Khouri Female Ona Glinton Primary 90.00

The graph below shows the spread of marks in 2017 compared with 2016. The graph shows that while there is an increase in the pass rate there is also an improvement in the overall quality of passes compared with the cohort in 2016.

The Government reiterates its commitment to the children and young people and highlight the strategies that the Ministry is undertaking to provide continuous professional development for school leaders and teachers, upgrading of facilities in primary and secondary schools, the implementation of the revised primary school curriculum with a strong emphasis on facilitating learners who are STEM proficient. These learners will be able to answer complex questions, investigate global issues, develop solutions for challenges and real world problems while applying the rigor of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics content in a seamless fashion. During the remainder of this financial year the Ministry will host workshops for teachers in assessment strategies and the teaching of English as a second language. The Ministry will also make technological resources to improve teaching and promote learning available to all public schools, and establish partnerships to ensure that the children have access to the latest and best software and learning tools.

The Ministry remains committed to SDG4 which calls on governments to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” Our goal is to create an enabling environment in which every learner can be successful. The Ministry of Education extends best wishes to all Grade Six achievers as they transition to high school.

The Grade Six Achievement Prize Giving ceremonies are carded to take place from Monday, 3rd July to Thursday, 6th July 2017 under the theme “Recognizing Achievements – Promoting Excellence”.

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Premier Revokes Hon Josephine Connolly's Appointment As Minister

Following speculation, the Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson has fired the Minister, Hon. Josephine Connolly from duties with the Education Ministry.

In a release to RTC News, the Premier explains the reasons for the revocation.

Premier the Hon. Sharlene Robinson.

These Islands have been cast in the most negative light over the past few weeks with scathing attacks at me as Premier and also against members of the Cabinet, other elected members of Parliament and family members. It is regrettable that this side of our country was showcased to the world especially via the world wide web. But I am encouraged by the number of personal expressions of encouragement received by me and my colleagues. The expressions of love and support revealed that we are still a loving people. We are fully aware that the recent weeks were fueled by different agendas and motives and by disgruntled individuals who sought to exploit a private family matter for political and personal gain. We are confident that this will all pass and we welcome being held into account and for persons expressing themselves freely as we as humans have a right to that basic right but we ask that we do so respectfully and truthfully.

Six months ago we as a Party was overwhelming elected to be the Government of this country and we have used this occasion to review our position and to make decisions for the road ahead having laid critical foundations. Your Government remains firm in its commitment to deliver the promised change for the people of this country and we as a Government and as a Party refuse to allow distractions to deter us from governance. This does not mean that we will ignore the voice of the people but that we will accept criticism when it is meant to be constructive and when it is truthful.

Equally important to the realisation of your Government’s agenda is the crucial role of Cabinet where there must be comradery, respect, confidentiality and competence. The appointment, management and revocation, if necessary, of members is the sole responsibility of the Premier and I accepted this with humility recognizing that tough decisions will come at times along the way.

I have unfortunately arrived at a place where I have had to ask HE The Governor to revoke the appointment of Hon Josephine Connolly. At this juncture, I will say that I thank Hon Connolly for her acceptance of my offer to serve in Cabinet and believe that she will continue to do for the people of this country as they have become accustomed.

It is important that the country understand that this Government and the PDM Party is above personalities and will seek to make decisions that are critical for the advancement of our people as a Team. Nation building requires team work and trust and when this is threatened and people are going in different directions and not ahead in one direction and as one unit, we cannot deliver for the people. Anything other than togetherness is a threat to nation building.

This Government is strong and we are at the plow all for the greater good of building a better and stronger nation.

I will address the people of this country further to any other statements issued and will participate in a full Press Conference on Monday, June 19th at 9am from the Premier’s Office in Providenciales.

RTC will have live coverage of the press conference on Tuesday June 20th commencing at 2pm.

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Ministry of Education Partners with Digicel TCI

The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services partnered with Digicel TCI to launch an online examination preparation tool for students from grades one to those sitting the CAPE examinations.

This academic initiative, 'LearningHub.online' (www.learninghub.online) aims to enlighten students’ knowledge while it prepares them to sit the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

The system provides an easy and convenient environment for test taking, while giving students the experience necessary to succeed in their examinations. It will help students achieve greater success in the examinations mentioned above. Through partnership with Digicel TCI, students, teachers and parents will have access to this dynamic approach to on-line learning which has the capacity to provide tutorials along with testing, thereby providing the students with educational materials essential to their curriculum.

The Hon. Minister of Education, Josephine Connolly commented that “this is important news for students of the Turks and Caicos Islands, it will give them the opportunity to reinforce the mastery of essential skills and improve their chances on examinations.”

“The Ministry is very excited about this venture as it will provide the students of the Turks and Caicos Islands the opportunity to maximize their potential and will be taking online learning to the next level.”

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Hon. Connolly Responds to Being Fired by Premier

The Hon. Josephine Connolly was on Friday terminated from Cabinet as Minister for Education Youth and Sports by Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson.

Hon. Connolly told our news desk she was shocked by the recent events and issued this release to us.

At a meeting held at 9.30am Friday 16th June, 2017 the Premier informed me that my appointment as a Minister had been revoked.

I later received the Instrument (signed by HE John Freeman the Governor) dated yesterday (Thursday 15th) which was published in the Gazette today.

At the meeting with the Premier I was given reasons for my dismissal. Those reasons included false allegations that I was behind some “street talk” intended to undermine her position. I was not given an opportunity to answer the allegations as the decision had already been made.

The charges laid by the Premier against me are without any foundation or credence. I am of the firm view that the reasons given by the Premier were a smokescreen to hide the real reason.

In leaving the Ministry of Education I would like to thank all my civil servants in all the departments under my sphere of responsibility including Sports and Library Services. We worked together to make meaningful changes in the education system and to bring positive changes to the lives of the children of the Turks & Caicos Islands. It is one of my biggest regrets that I will not be able to see through the work we had started.

I remain a loyal member of the PDM party. I worked hard during the election because I believed in the philosophy of our party. The party is not owned by any individual, but is made up of a collection of people representing the ideals and hopes of its founders and the many good and faithful supporters whose only desire is to see this country succeed.

I was disappointed that the PDM constitution was ignored in relation to the disciplining of cabinet members and that the NGC did not have the opportunity to carry out the due diligence and the investigation to which the PDM constitution speaks. The founders of the party put this in the constitution to stop Ministers being subject to unfair treatment or capricious behaviour by a Premier.

I would like to say to the people who voted for me that I am very resilient and I will continue to represent you to the best of my ability in the House of Assembly. I was born in these Islands and I decided to enter into politics late in life because I felt I had something to offer, something to contribute, to my country and to my people. It was a dream come true to be your representative and your Minister and I cannot lie that I am bitterly disappointed that the opportunity to help my people has been taken away from me.

To my friends and the many people who have given me words of encouragement over the last three months as the storm clouds gathered your kind words have sustained me. To my prayer warriors who have kept my focus on God thank you, you are right “this too shall pass”.

To the people of the Turks & Caicos Islands I remain committed to seeing this country flourish and succeed and I will play whatever role that God has determined for me.

Honourable Josephine Connolly BSc, MSc, CIPD, MP

Since the release, Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson has called a press conference for Monday June 19th, which will be aired live on RTC FM.

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