Tropical wave causes widespread flooding, forces cancellation of schools in Belize
Schools in the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts were closed on Monday as Belize came under heavy rains and strong winds linked to the passage of a tropical wave.
The National Meteorological Service (NMS) said the wave follows the area of low pressure that crossed over the weekend.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology said that based on the recommendation of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and the NMS it had taken the decision that “all class sessions in the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts have been cancelled for today” and that schools in the other districts where flooding is being experienced are being asked to advise the authorities on the situation.
“The Ministry will continue to closely monitor all other districts for developments and will inform the public of any changes made to the school schedule. We urge everyone to pay keen attention to the advisories issued by the NEMO and the NMS, and to take all necessary precautions to safeguard health and lives.”
NMS said that some areas in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts received as much as five inches of rainfall during the past 48 hours and that the tropical wave will continue to support very wet conditions persisting at least through to mid-week.
“Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected over most areas of the country producing daily rainfall totals of one to three inches with locally higher amounts. A flood watch remains in effect in keeping with the flood advisories issued for areas prone to flooding as the weather is expected to get worse in the coming days,” the NMS added.
NEMO said shelters have been opened in the villages of Carmelita and San Jose in the Orange Walk District and that people living near rivers, creeks, and low-lying areas are cautioned to be on the alert and take the necessary actions to save lives, including moving to safer areas.
DISRUPTION OF FLIGHT SERVICES JUNE 18th AT THE PROVIDENCIALES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
A group of disgruntled firefighters bound together and staged a strike last weekend to demand their voices be heard regarding a salary increase disparity.
Sources say that the firefighters asked for an across-the-board increase, but when it was given, it was shockingly inequal.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) announced that it has and continues to prioritize improving work conditions and salaries/wages at the TCIAA. They said that the workers did not give the TCIAA sufficient notice of their intention to strike and in response to a recent announcement by the TCIAA to its staff that it was immediately introducing a phased salary increase to all staff.
The Airports Authority also said that the initial 15% increase to the fire service was a first step in a two-step process leading to the introduction of a salary grading scale. The TCIAA mentioned that they proposed in their 2022/23 budget to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, a reserved sum to meet the demands of the salary increase.
The TCIAA said that they will continue to work with its Team Members, including the Fire Service, to adequately address the salary concerns and any other issues affecting their work environment.
The Airports Authority mentioned that construction of a new Fire Hall and Air Traffic Control Tower is underway. Another effort, they said, which is being taken to improve work conditions at the TCIAA. They have expressed hope that the anticipated redevelopment of the Providenciales International Airport would address several other workplace issues.
Deputy Leader of the People’s Democratic Movement, Honorable Robert Been, said that the recent news regarding cancelled or postponed flights due to the disgruntled workers is saddening. He said that these flights are the bread and butter of the islands and must not be taken lightly.
Hon. Been said that respect and proper communication are the means to avoiding public conflict such as this as it appears that the 15% increase was not equal across the board. He added that mutual agreements between the parties involved could have been settled long before public travelling and airline partners were so unfairly inconvenienced, and the aviation reputation of the Turks and Caicos Islands was compromised once again.
Hon. Been called upon the current administration to visit the various departments to find out issues, challenges, and concerns to properly take care of the people.
COLLISION LEADS TO FIREARM RECOVERY
In the early hours of Saturday morning, 18th June, about 12:37am, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) received a report of a motor vehicle collision on Millennium Highway, Blue Hills, Providenciales.
The Police said that officers on patrol were dispatched to the scene where they saw a two-car motor vehicle accident. The Officers initial inquiries revealed that one of the drivers involved in the accident fled the scene in a separate vehicle.
The Officers reported that they observed the other driver who was met on scene, limping due to the collision. However, the man refused medical assistance, despite complaining of pain. Further Police inquiries revealed that the driver was not a holder of a valid Turks and Caicos Islands Driver’s license. As a result, the Officers warned him of intended prosecution for the offences of Unlicensed Driving and Use of Motor Vehicle Without Insurance.
Minutes later, at about 12:58am, the Officers who were attending the scene received pertinent information from the 911 Control Room which resulted in additional support from Officers who were instructed to attend the scene. The Police said that they then conducted a search of the surrounding area of the collision site.
During the search, Officers recovered a firearm with a magazine loaded with ammunition determined to be an AK-47. The driver was subsequently cautioned and arrested for Carrying Firearm and Ammunition. The male is currently in Police Custody as the investigation continues.
ECLAC-ILO warns of ‘slow, partial and uneven’ employment in the Caribbean
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) says that while regional economies grew 6.6 per cent last year, the recovery in employment has been “slow, partial and uneven”.
In a joint report entitled “Employment Situation in Latin America and the Caribbean, real wages during the pandemic: trends and challenges,” the two United Nations agencies underline that the recovery of employment to pre- coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic levels lags in comparison with the recovery in the countries’ economic activity.
The report notes that by the end of 2021, most countries had regained their pre-crisis gross domestic product (GDP) levels, while employment levels remained lower in many cases.
“As seen in other crisis situations, the dynamics between employment and economic activity play a critical role for implementing better and more timely labour policies, which means that possible lags in employment suggest the need to strengthen the instruments to facilitate people’s reincorporation into the labour market.”
The report said that after the number of employed in the region suffered a historic contraction in 2020 (8.2 per cent), there was a significant rebound in that indicator in 2021, notching 6.8 per cent growth in the fourth quarter of that year versus the same period of 2020.
“However, despite the considerable increase in employment throughout the year, the number of employed people in the region did not return to the level seen at the end of 2019 until the fourth quarter of 2021.”
The report states the labour gaps between men and women widened in 2021, adding that the labour market recovery has also been unequal, “to the detriment of women.
“Although employment and labour force participation have improved for both men and women, the former have benefited more than the latter. The crisis prompted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic affected female employment more significantly, marking a setback equivalent to more than 18 years in the levels of women’s labour force participation.
“The slow recovery in the activities that account for a larger share of female employment and the larger burden that women shoulder in caring for the sick, children and older people help explain this notable difference in the dynamics of total participation rates,” it added.
The report noted that the health crisis stemming from COVID-19 has had “important effects” on wage trends in the region. It said the impact of the recent evolution of inflation has been most clearly reflected in real minimum wages, “the purchasing power of which declined in 2021”.
In addition, the average real wages in the region in 2021 were 6.8 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, “lagging more than economic activity and employment vis-à-vis that marker,” warning this could worsen in 2022, when even steeper rises in inflation are expected.
CARIBBEAN-EMPLOYMENT- ECLAC-ILO warns of ‘slow, partial and uneven’ employment in the Caribbean
by STAFF WRITER
June 20, 2022 Business No Comments 93 views
SANTIAGO, Chile, Jun 20, CMC – The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) says that while regional economies grew 6.6 per cent last year, the recovery in employment has been “slow, partial and uneven”.
In a joint report entitled “Employment Situation in Latin America and the Caribbean, real wages during the pandemic: trends and challenges,” the two United Nations agencies underline that the recovery of employment to pre- coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic levels lags in comparison with the recovery in the countries’ economic activity.
The report notes that by the end of 2021, most countries had regained their pre-crisis gross domestic product (GDP) levels, while employment levels remained lower in many cases.
“As seen in other crisis situations, the dynamics between employment and economic activity play a critical role for implementing better and more timely labour policies, which means that possible lags in employment suggest the need to strengthen the instruments to facilitate people’s reincorporation into the labour market.”
The report said that after the number of employed in the region suffered a historic contraction in 2020 (8.2 per cent), there was a significant rebound in that indicator in 2021, notching 6.8 per cent growth in the fourth quarter of that year versus the same period of 2020.
“However, despite the considerable increase in employment throughout the year, the number of employed people in the region did not return to the level seen at the end of 2019 until the fourth quarter of 2021.”
The report states the labour gaps between men and women widened in 2021, adding that the labour market recovery has also been unequal, “to the detriment of women.
“Although employment and labour force participation have improved for both men and women, the former have benefited more than the latter. The crisis prompted by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic affected female employment more significantly, marking a setback equivalent to more than 18 years in the levels of women’s labour force participation.
“The slow recovery in the activities that account for a larger share of female employment and the larger burden that women shoulder in caring for the sick, children and older people help explain this notable difference in the dynamics of total participation rates,” it added.
The report noted that the health crisis stemming from COVID-19 has had “important effects” on wage trends in the region. It said the impact of the recent evolution of inflation has been most clearly reflected in real minimum wages, “the purchasing power of which declined in 2021”.
In addition, the average real wages in the region in 2021 were 6.8 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, “lagging more than economic activity and employment vis-à-vis that marker,” warning this could worsen in 2022, when even steeper rises in inflation are expected.
“It is vital to deploy institutional instruments, such as collective bargaining and minimum wages, to enable discussion of wage adjustments at the level of productive units and branches of activity, to meet the needs of both workers and companies,” says Mario Cimoli, ECLAC’s acting executive secretary, and Claudia Coenjaerts, the ILO’s regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, in the document’s foreword.
They wrote that policies to facilitate the insertion of wage earners – such as hiring subsidies – that are focused on the most vulnerable groups will not only contribute to a faster recovery in their employment levels but will also “prevent wage conditions from becoming more precarious than before the pandemic.”
According to the report, in 2022, the pace of job creation is expected to decelerate, adding that “it is foreseen that progress in the vaccination process, fewer restrictions on movement and the reopening of schools will fuel a recovery in participation levels, especially among women.
“However, the combined effect of greater labour force participation and a slow pace of job creation could prompt a rise in the unemployment rate over the year,” the report notes, adding that, in a context in which there is still room for employment to recover to its pre-pandemic levels, making nominal adjustments to the minimum wage that would compensate for the losses caused by rising inflation is “crucial.”
“In that regard, the reactivation of mechanisms for dialogue between governments, workers and employers to set minimum wage increases has great potential as a way of reconciling the needs of labour market stakeholders.
“This could serve to implement minimum wage increases that enable offsetting higher inflation, while also contemplating their impact both on production costs – especially for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs),” the reported added.
Source- CMC
Beyoncé to drop new single, "Break My Soul," at midnight
Beyoncé's newest single, "Break My Soul," is expected to drop at midnight ET, per the singer's updated social media accounts.
News of the release comes after the Grammy-winning artist changed her Instagram and Twitter bios to read, "6. BREAK MY SOUL midnight ET," and only a few days after she announced her forthcoming seventh studio album, Renaissance. The long-awaited project, which is expected July 29, will feature both dance and country tracks, according to
Variety, with contributions from Raphael Saadiq, who executive-produced Beyoncé's sister Solange Knowles' 2016 album, A Seat at the Table, as well as Ryan Tedder, who co-wrote Beyoncé's 2008 hit "Halo."
Renaissance will be Beyoncé's first solo studio album since her 2016 award-winning project, Lemonade. It also follows the critically-acclaimed Homecoming, the live album of her 2018 Coachella headlining performance.
Upon the Renaissance announcement last Thursday, fans immediately speculated it would be a multi-part album, considering the information shown on her official website and merchandise which reads "act i."
Bey also covers British Vogue, which got an early listen to the album. While there are very few quotes from the star in the article posted online, the magazine's editor-in-chief, Edward Enninful, writes of Beyoncé, "The creation [of the album] has been a long process, she explains, with the pandemic giving her far longer to spend thinking and rethinking every decision. Just the way she likes it."
Source-ABC
TCI WEATHER-JUNE 20TH,2022
GENERAL SITUATION: A PRE-FRONTAL TROUGH ASSOCIATED WITH A FRONTAL BOUNDARY JUST NORTH OF THE AREA ALONG WITH STREAMING TROPICAL MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO GENERATE POCKETS OF UNSETTLED WEATHER ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS TODAY.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BOATERS AND RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT FOR POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT AND/OR TORNADIC ACTIVITY. BEACHGOERS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION DUE TO THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT EAST COAST BEACHES. RESIDENTS IN LOW LYING AND/OR FLOOD PRONE AREAS MAY EXPERIENCE LOCALIZED FLOODING DURING HEAVY AND/OR PROLONGED RAINFALL EVENTS. RESIDENTS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO REMAIN HYDRATED AND LIMIT EXTENDED PERIODS IN THE SUN DUE TO TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT INDICES.
NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS:
WEATHER: VARIABLE CLOUDINESS AND HOT WITH THE CHANCE OF A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT. SOME SHOWERS MAY BE LOCALLY HEAVY AND THUNDERSTORMS STRONG TO SEVERE AT TIMES.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS , FALLING LIGHT AND VARIABLE AT TIMES OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
TURKS & CAICOS:
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY, BREEZY AND HOT WITH THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF ISOLATED SHOWERS TODAY. MOSTLY FAIR, WARM AND BREEZY TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: A SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IS IN EFFECT.
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE: 91°F 33°C
HEAT INDEX: 103 °F 40 °C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE: 77°F 25°C
SUNRISE: 6:20 AM MOONSET: 12:46 PM LOW TIDE: 7:50 AM & 8:09 PM
SUNSET: 8:01 PM MOONRISE: 1:28 AM TUE HIGH TIDE: 1:59 PM &.2:17 AM TUE.
EXTENDED FORECAST (FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS): THE WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY MIGRATE INTO THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND DISSIPATE WHILE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS NORTH OF THE AREA IN ITS WAKE THROUGH MID-WEEK.
Golden State Warriors' free agents voice desire to stay
Amid the champagne showers that drenched Golden State's locker room in the TD Garden, Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins hopped on Instagram Live to share the celebration with their followers.
In the livestream, Poole looked at Wiggins and proclaimed, "You're going to get a bag."
An uncontrollable smile cracked across Wiggins' face before he responded, "No, we're going to get a bag." Poole repeated the same words back to the camera.
Wiggins, who is heading into the final season of his $147 million rookie extension from 2017 with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Poole, who is entering the last year of his rookie deal, are both up for contract extensions before becoming free agents next offseason. Poole has until Oct. 17 to negotiate a new contract with the Warriors.
"I would love to stay here," Wiggins said Saturday afternoon at the Warriors' exit interviews. "Being here, this is top-notch. The way they treat the players ... we're all one big family. I feel like a lot of places may say that, but they show it through their actions."
Wiggins arrived in Golden State in a trade that stemmed from Kevin Durant's departure in 2019. At first, there were questions about how effective the trade would be.
Wiggins was leaving the Timberwolves with a reputation that suggested he was lazy. Many didn't think he was a hard worker or would be able to make a true impact on the Warriors -- especially not one that would help them win another title.
Like Wiggins, there were a lot of doubts surrounding Poole's future. Following his rookie season in 2019-20, some questioned whether he would even have a future in the league. But this season, he not only filled the starting shooting guard spot as Klay Thompson worked his way back but he also started in place of Stephen Curry through the final month of the regular season -- and the first few games of the playoffs -- before he created his own role as a sixth man.
"He definitely deserves [a new contract]," Wiggins said. "Jordan is someone who works so hard, who makes his teammates better and can go out there on the court and dominate."
Poole wasn't as definitive as Wiggins when asked if he would like to return to Golden State, but it wasn't as though he sounded eager to go anywhere else.
"If I'm going to be completely honest, I haven't even been able to fathom anything about that process yet," Poole said. "I was so locked in on the championship. Like, we know it will happen, we put ourselves in situations to be successful and everything else will take care of itself."
While signing Wiggins and Poole to extensions would be a move to keep them from becoming free agents next summer, the Warriors have a number of free agents this offseason.
Gary Payton II, Andre Iguodala, Kevon Looney, Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, Damion Lee and Chris Chiozza will all be unrestricted free agents. Juan Toscano-Anderson and Quinndary Weatherspoon will be restricted free agents.
Of the upcoming free agents who were made available for exit interviews, all voiced a desire to remain in Golden State.
Source-ESPN
Russia blockading Ukrainian grain is a 'real war crime'
Russia's blockade of millions of tonnes of Ukrainian grain is a "real war crime", says EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
"It is inconceivable - one cannot imagine that millions of tonnes of wheat remain blocked in Ukraine while in the rest of the world, people are suffering hunger," Mr Borrell said.
"We call on Russia to deblockade the [Ukrainian] ports."
EU foreign ministers met in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss the crisis.
Western countries have demanded Russia stop blockading Ukraine's Black Sea ports and allow vast stores of grain to reach world markets.
The blockade has sparked warnings that tens of millions of people are at risk of famine and sent food prices soaring.
Mr Borrell said Russia's war against Ukraine had had a damaging impact worldwide, which could be witnessed through food and energy prices.
In a news conference after the meeting, he said Russia's blockade of Ukrainian grain exports was "a deliberate attempt to create hunger in the world" and place additional pressure on the EU and Ukraine.
According to Mr Borrell, EU foreign ministers will be contacting their counterparts across the African continent about sanctions on Russia.
He rejected Russia's claim that the current food crisis is a result of
EU sanctions, adding that EU sanctions "don't forbid" countries outside of the EU from taking place in food trade practices with Russia or other countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was engaged in "complex negotiations" to release its ports from Russia's blockade.
Mr Zelensky said the global grain crisis would last as long as Russia's "colonial war".
He added that countries in the African Union were hostages of Russia's war in Ukraine.
Ahead of the meeting in Luxembourg, Mr Borrell said: "This is a real war crime, so I cannot imagine that this will last much longer."
He said Russia should be held "accountable" if it keeps blocking the export of vitally needed grain from Ukraine.
The 27-nation bloc disputes Russia's claims that rising prices and food shortages in the Middle East and Africa are down to EU sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Borrell added: "I want to insist that it's not European sanctions that are creating this crisis - our sanctions don't target food, don't target fertilisers.
"The problem comes from the Russian blockade of Ukrainian grains."
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said that "Russia must stop playing with global hunger" as it seeks leverage on the West.
Source-BBC
LAUNCH OF VICTIMS AND WITNESS SUPPORT UNIT
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in collaboration with the Criminal Justice Stakeholder’s Group (CJSG) has announced the launch of the TCI Victims and Witnesses Support Unit on Friday, June 24th, 11:00 a.m. at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex, Providenciales.
Under the leadership of the Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Mabel Agyemang, the Criminal Justice Stakeholders’ Group has demonstratively committed to implement a criminal justice delivery agenda that would do more to speed up the wheel of justice, protect and care for victims of crimes and their families, respect and safeguard the rights of offenders, and above all, secure public confidence in the administration of criminal justice in TCI.
In this regard, significant strides continue to be made and one of the CJSG achievements is the successful collaborative effort that gave rise to the establishment of the Victims and Witnesses Support Unit to be hosted in the ODPP.
The June 24th launch, and by extension the Unit, will serve to:
(i) Highlight why and how the interest and victims should be put first in, or at the heart, of our criminal justice delivery;
(ii) Do all that is possible to regain the trust and confidence of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system; and
(iii) Educate and sensitize the public of our civic, moral and legal obligation not only to report crime but also to assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice by testifying.
Other members of the Criminal Justice Stakeholders’ Group are:
Hon. Justice Shiraz Aziz; The Hon. Attorney General; Director of Public Prosecutions; the Commissioner of Police; Director of the Department of Social Development; Superintendent of The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation;The Hon. Chief Magistrate; Registrar of the Supreme Court; a representative of the TCI Bar and the Secretary.
CITIZEN INFLATION ADJUSTMENT STIMULUS POLICY UPDATE
The Ministry of Finance says that further review of previous Citizen Inflation Adjustment Stimulus applications that have been previously put on hold, has been granted. It also says that applicants will receive an email from noreply@gov.tc requesting the outstanding documents.
This means that persons whose stimulus applications were previously on hold has another opportunity to receive the economic relief.
The Ministry of Finance says that applicants must submit the request information or documents by no later than 5th July as failure to adhere to the deadline will result in the application being declined.
Eligible persons may contact the government via email: tciassistance@gov.tc The Ministry of Finance says, however, that if your application has been declined because persons do not meet the age criteria or the application was duplicated, no further assistance can be given.
The Ministry is also reminding persons that to be considered for eligibility, they must be 18 years or older during the application process and must provide proof of their residency in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Letters from Educational Institutions showing current enrollment are now considered proof of residency and must be accompanied by a standard affidavit, according to the Ministry.
Applicants may also provide a letter from a District Commissioner or a Justice of Peace as proof of residency which must also be accompanied by a standard affidavit. Persons may also provide an active NIB card, voter’s registration number or a copy of a current utility bill as proof of residency when apply for the Citizen Inflation Adjustment Stimulus.