Leader of The Opposition Christmas Message 2015
What a blessing it is to have made it this far in 2015. It is only by God’s grace and mercy we are alive and at our station in life. I am indeed grateful for the gift of life and for the privilege to address you from this platform another year and so it is with a heart of gratitude and one filled with hope that I greet you our residents and visitors alike.
As this year draw near its end, it is more innate than customary that we begin a period of reflection. This year has seen many challenges and while many are struggling to find cause to celebrate or to be cheerful, I wish to call us to reflect on the reason we celebrate Christmas.
If we were to allow ourselves to be stuck in what was a difficult year for many and if we were to dwell on the lack of material things or the past hurts, losses and disappointments in 2015, then we would be robbing God of the gratitude and thanksgiving that He deserves. I offer you the following thoughts: whatever you have been through and are going through, you have made it this far and not without God’s grace and mercy and whatever you anticipate for the new year, God is already there ahead of you. This is enough to be thankful for and enough to encourage us to trust Him with our past and more importantly our future.
And as we reflect on this time of year, let us not miss the true reason we pause to celebrate. It is all about Jesus and what His birth signified. His birth, the greatest gift and expression of love, signaled an opportunity for man to be reconciled back to God. His very birth offered eternal hope, peace and joy. In these times, we ought to want to pause from all of the hustle and bustle to delight ourselves in this reality. As we celebrate, while we reflect on the birth of Jesus, let us also seek to emulate the life that He led: one of peace, love and giving. Throughout His time on earth, He delighted in being around and meeting the needs of people especially the disadvantaged. Let us do what we can to minister to those in need: not just in an encouraging word but in real deeds. Let us give lovingly, cheerfully, and for no praise from men, but for the glory of God.
In our time of reflection, with thankful and grateful hearts, let us give God the praise that is due Him for keeping us to this time, for the tests and challenges that did not kill us but can and will serve to make us better, for the gift of life, family and friends and for the gift of His Son, the Promise that brings us hope in this time.
During this season, give your family some quality time, give praise and celebrate in a place of Worship, give to those less fortunate and in all be sure to give God all the glory.
On behalf of the PDM Party: our officers, members and families, and with grateful and thankful hearts, I extend to you a very Merry Christmas and a Christ filled New Year. In this New Year, it is our prayer that you will embrace the new possibilities and beginnings that it will bring and remember that whatever our struggles and challenges in life and wherever we might find ourselves, there is still the opportunity to start anew, to change our attitude and outlook.
This is a time of reflection, sharing, hope and new possibilities.
In the words of an unknown author, “May you have the spirit of Christmas which is peace, the gladness of Christmas which is hope and the heart of Christmas which is love.”
And from my heart to yours, may the Christ of Christmas fill your hearts and homes.
Again I wish for you a very Merry Christmas and a Christ filled 2016.
Holiday rebirth
The holiday season is upon us and as always signals rebirth, renewal. Despite the turmoil of the world at large and the continuing disappointments here at home we will now pause to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Let us reflect for a moment on why this yearly event is the most important holiday in the history of mankind.
Christ was and is the Son of the Creator who came to save mankind from itself. Jesus taught us to turn from greed and to reach out in humility to each other. This is a lesson for the whole world and for the Turks and Caicos Islands who have been on a different path for a dozen years.
We look forward to the Christmas season here in Middle Caicos. The Christmas tree lighting will signal once again that rebirth, that renewal here on the mother island. We will celebrate Christmas with our families and friends. Christmas renewal will become nourishment for our souls and holiday meals nourishment for our bodies.
Christmas should refocus our attention on our children and grandchildren who we must instruct in the lessons of Jesus so that they will carry on to lead us properly in the future. God knows we and they must turn away from greed to seek our own humility.
The New Years resolution most important for the people of the TCI is to consider what has gone before for an entire generation of 20 years. Children have been born, grown and had their own children during that period.
Then during that same period we have moved from honest government serving all the people to government and leadership which began by mocking an honest leader for his Christianity. Then went on to teach our youth examples of greed and lust. Our children have inherited the wind !
2016 is the season to look outside the box. To stop being taken for granted and return to our roots.
It is the healthy roots planted and grown by the PDM that gave TCI potential prosperity. Prosperity first side tracked now stalled. Prosperity can only be realized under an honest government capable of repairing the damage.
Monuments of the failures of greed and lust are everywhere in both faulty concrete and self serving policies. People need only to open their eyes. Worshiping the Golden Calf not only turned us away from the 10 commandments given to Moses but from the humble important lessons of Christ.
2016 is an election year. A year to resolve to return to a people's honest thoughtful government and finally begin the process of TCI rebirth, then rebuilding.
May all the people of the TCI have a joyous Christmas and a honest and hopeful New Year.
- David Tapfer
Holiday Message from the Premier and Leader of the Opposition
Both the Premier - Dr. Rufus Ewing - and the Leader of the Opposition - Sharlene Cartwright Robinson - presented their Christmas message to the nation during the weekend of December 25, 2015. You may listen to Dr. Ewing's address via this link. The Hon. Mrs. Robinson's message to the nation can be viewed here.
X-Men: Apocalypse
Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel's X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.
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Captain America Civil War
An incident leads to the Avengers developing a schism over how to deal with situations, which escalates into an open fight between allies Iron Man and Captain America.
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Star Trek Beyond
"Star Trek Beyond," the highly anticipated next installment in the globally popular Star Trek franchise, created by Gene Roddenberry and reintroduced by J.J. Abrams in 2009, returns with director Justin Lin (“The Fast and the Furious” franchise) at the helm of this epic voyage of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her intrepid crew. In “Beyond," the Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.
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FortisTCI Names ‘Pioneers’ of the TCI Electricity Utility Industry
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (Thursday, December 17, 2015) –
FortisTCI recognizes five former electricity utility industry professionals, honouring them
with the FortisTCI Pioneer Award. This will be an annual award meant to recognize a
broad cross section of individuals that have contributed to the electricity industry in the
Turks and Caicos Islands. This year’s honourees are Mr. Claridge Wilson, Mr. Ernie
Jackson, Mr. Wayne Douglas, and the late Mr. Eric Seymour (represented by his wife
Mrs. Gladys Seymour) and the late Mr. Ken Lighbourne (represented by his son Brian
Lightbourne).
In an industry that is now rapidly changing and evolving through the technological age,
the FortisTCI Pioneer Award is an acknowledgment to those that set the foundation and
significantly contributed to the growth and development of the Country’s electricity
industry. FortisTCI President and CEO Eddinton Powell said, “The Turks and Caicos
Islands can boast of having one of the best electricity services available in the region. We
recognize that to get where we are today it took great knowledge, tremendous vision, and
great workmanship by notable industry professionals. We honour these individuals who
have blazed the path as Pioneers, and the torch of service and excellence has been
passed on to a new generation.” The Company has plans in 2016, to create a wall of
honour to publicly display the names of ‘Electricity Industry Pioneers’ at its headquarters
in Providenciales.
The late Eric Seymour is a former Power House Supervisor, Chief Engineer, Electrical
Superintendent and Electricity Commissioner that served the Turks and Caicos Islands
from 1969 to 2003. He gained his initial training and experience as a Merchant Marine
with American Coast Lines where he worked his way from a junior engineer in 1953 to
Chief Engineer in 1969. He eventually joined the TCI civil service and served as Chief
Engineer and Electrical Superintendent. During this time, he oversaw the erection and
distribution of electricity to many areas of the Turks and Caicos Islands that had not had
electricity previously. In 1992, he took up early retirement from the civil service and took
the opportunity to serve his country as Electricity Commissioner, a post he held until he
retired completely from active duty in 2003.
The late Mr. Ken Lightbourne began his service with Provo Power Company (PPC) as an
operator in 1989. A former line superintendent he was known as one of the first to take
safety seriously. He also had a passion for developing employees who worked in
Transmission & Distribution and took pride in helping them grow professionally. When he
passed away in 2002, he was serving as the Company’s Superintendent of Distribution.
Mr. Claridge Wilson served with Provo Power Company as the electrical plant
superintendent, having been employed by the Company from 1992 until 2005. A well
respected professional in the industry, he played a major role in the installation of
Caterpillar engines at the Provo plant. He was also responsible for day-to-day plant
maintenance throughout the Caicos Islands.
Mr. Ernie Jackson, an electrical engineer by trade, joined PPC in May 1998 as Chief
Engineer. He led developments and upgrades on the T&D Systems throughout the
Caicos Islands. One of his many major projects was the conversion of overhead lines in
Grace Bay to underground. He was promoted to FortisTCI Vice President of Production
and Engineering in September of 2007 and served in this capacity until his departure.
Mr. Wayne Douglas joined PPC in November 1998 as Plant Mechanical Superintendent
and is known as a friend to all. On the job he believed in teamwork, family, and
community, possessing a knack for keeping people motivated. His professional skills
were fabrication and mechanical engineering. He had since served as a consultant of
Special Projects with FortisTCI. His role was instrumental in the logistics and
commissioning of the new Wartsila Engines.
LUDWINA FULFORD IS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF CULTURE
The Turks and Caicos Government is pleased to congratulate Ms. Ludwina Fulford on her successful appointment as the new Director of Culture within the Ministry of Tourism.
Ms. Fulford graduated in the top five of the 2001 graduating class of HJ Robinson High School in Grand Turk. She went on to successfully complete a Certificate and Associate Degree in Business Studies from the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College and later received a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Relations and a Master’s Degree in Management from the Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She was an employee of Scotiabank TCI for the last seven years as both Personal Banking Officer and Business Banking Manager.
“Ms. Fulford in addition to her academic strengths is also clearly a civic minded individual, which is evidenced through her involvement in the Rotaract Club of Grand Turk where she has held several positions throughout the years including Sergeant at Arms, Fund Raising Director, Club Services Director, President, Assistant District Rotaract Representative and Immediate Past President,” stated Deputy Governor, Anya Williams.
“She performed exceptionally well in the recent recruitment exercise and we look forward to her joining our team and progressing cultural initiatives here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
Ms. Fulford added; “I am indeed grateful to be appointed as Director of Culture. It has always been my desire to work in the Public Service, assisted by the TCI Government with my studies, the Civil Service was always my first choice for employment.
“The Culture Department by its very nature dictates an inter sectorial approach to the fulfillment of its mandate. It is, therefore, my intention to embrace the contributions and involvement of both the public and private sectors. As an advocate of a cooperative approach, I am committed to fostering team spirit and unity among my staff and all other stakeholders in Culture.”
New Deputy Chief Valuation Officer
The Lands Division under the Attorney General’s Chambers wishes to advise the general public of the recruitment of Mrs. Michele Grey as Deputy Chief Valuation Officer within the Valuation Department.
Michele Grey, who was elected a professional member of the RICS in 2008, is a Chartered Valuation Surveyor with a wealth of experience in property valuation and property tax assessment. She also has an MBA in International Business, a BSc (Hons) in Estate Management and a Diploma in Land Economy and Valuation Surveying.
Prior to joining the valuation team, she worked at the National Land Agency (NLA) Jamaica where she assisted with the management of a property portfolio numbering over 180,000 parcels of land. She has led numerous valuation projects for road expansion and portfolio valuations and was integral in the ongoing property revaluation exercise. She served as co-chair of the NLA’s Welfare Committee and was a member of the Procurement Committee.
She has been on the executive council of the Association of Land Economy and Valuation Surveyors (ALEVS) for the last three years as chair of the Event Planning and Fund Raising Committee and treasurer of the Association. She coordinated several training courses, some in collaboration with RICS, geared towards continuing professional development for Valuers and the wider surveying profession.