Fuel prices in Suriname rise to record high
The Suriname Government has announced an increase in the price of fuel products, even as the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country battle with rising prices for basic goods and services.
The authorities said that the new prices go into effect on Thursday and will result in a litre of gasoline, though subsidies by government, increasing from SRD$22.51 to SRD$24.76 (One SRD$=US$0.04 cents).
The price for a litre of super unleaded moves from SRD$26.31 to SRD$30.41, while the price of a litre of diesel remains the same at SRD$19.87 with the government indicating that the subsidy for fuel is SRD$6.58 per litre. If the subsidy is removed the price of a litre of diesel is SRD$26.45.
The Ministry of Finance and Planning said that the international oil price has risen sharply in the past month, partly because of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“If this price increase were to be fully passed on, prices …should be SRD$26.45 per litre for diesel and SRD$26.81 per litre for unleaded petrol, respectively,” the ministry said.
The government said that the subsidies are intended to protect citizens and businesses against the turbulence on the international oil market.
But it warned that the subsidies are likely to be phased out and replaced by a system of subject subsidies.
Suriname has been suffering from a serious financial and economic crisis for several months now. In 2020, immediately after taking office, the new government turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial assistance.
In December 2021, a financial aid programme to support the economic recovery programme implemented by the Santokhi administration was approved and the IMF is making US$675 million available to Suriname for a period of three years.
UK will not copy EU demand for common charging cable
The UK government says it is not "currently considering" copying European Union plans for a common charging cable.
The EU has provisionally agreed all new portable electronic devices must, by autumn 2024, use a USB Type-C charger, a move it says will benefit consumers.
Critics say it will stifle innovation.
Under the current post-Brexit arrangements, the regulation would apply to Northern Ireland, according to EU and UK officials.
According to the a December 2021 parliamentary report, the "new requirements may also apply to devices sold in Northern Ireland under the terms of the Northern Ireland protocol in the Brexit agreement, potentially triggering divergence of product standards with the rest of the UK".
The treaty works by keeping Northern Ireland inside the EU's single market for goods, while the rest of the UK is outside it.
A row between the UK and EU about how to reform the Northern Ireland protocol remains unresolved.
A UK government spokesperson said "we are not currently considering replicating this requirement".
Apple products such as iPhones and iPads will have to conform to the new regulation, as will, eventually laptop computers. Existing devices will be exempt.
The agreement will be brought before the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers after their summer recesses, where it can be formally approved and then published.
It argued against the proposal, when it was first introduced, in September 2021, with a representative telling BBC News: "Strict regulation mandating just one type of connector stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, which in turn will harm consumers in Europe and around the world".
Apple is the biggest manufacturer to use a custom charging port that is exclusive to some of its products - its iPhone series uses an Apple-made Lightning connector.
The new rule will cover a range of "small and medium-sized portable electronics", according the EU, including:
mobile phones
tablets
headphones and headsets
handheld videogame consoles
portable speakers
Any of these charged using a wired cable will have to have a USB Type-C port, regardless of who makes the devices.
Laptops will also have to abide by the ruling but manufacturers will have 40 months after it comes into effect to make changes.
The agreement also includes a plan to let customers choose whether or not they want a charging cable with their new electronics.
"This law is a part of a broader EU effort to make products in the EU more sustainable, to reduce electronic waste, and make consumers' lives easier," the EU said in its announcement.
It would save consumers "up to €250m [£213m] a year on unnecessary charger purchases" and cut 11,000 tonnes of waste per year, the EU added.
Source-BBC
PLANNING DEPARTMENT MAKES PUBLIC APPEAL
As the TCI and the region are now in the midst of the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season, the Department of Planning is advising the public to make all necessary hurricane preparation around properties and construction sites.
The department is encouraging everyone to secure all loose materials, strap down containers that are not anchored and remove any debris that may be laying around. In particular, the department says that special attention must be taken to remove loose debris stored on your properties such as old zinc or discarded materials, as they have the potential to be tossed around in the form of a missile during a hurricane or strong winds.
Suppliers and contractors are reminded to keep all building materials, construction equipment, and freight containers stored in a safe place or remove them from the site to a safe location in the event of a hurricane approaching.
The department says that it wants to ensure that there is minimal impact to property and life in the event of a storm, so it's encouraging the compliance of the public. If persons are aware of cases where this is not being done then you can contact the department to lodge an official complaint.
BAHAMAS & TCI WEATHER
AREA—ALL AREAS:
WEATHER: VARIABLY CLOUDY, WARM AND HUMID WITH WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THROUGH TONIGHT. SHOWERS MAY BECOME HEAVY AND THUNDERSTORMS STRONG TO SEVERE AT TIMES.
ADVISORY: EXPECT GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS.
WINDS: VARIABLE AT 10 KNOTS OR LESS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 KNOTS IN THE TCI, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS, GUSTY AT TIMES.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. 3 TO 5 FEET BUT HIGHER IN GUSTS ELSEWHERE.
WEDNESDAY’S HIGH TEMPERATURE: 88°F / 31°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE: 75°F / 24°C
FORECAST FOR FRIDAY:
WEATHER: VARIABLY CLOUDY AND WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS.
WINDS: SOUTHERLY AT 10 KNOTS OR LESS. IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND 15 KNOTS IN THE
SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS. 3 TO 5 FEET IN THE TCI & SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: CURRENTLY, TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.
TCI Officials Accused of Murder Coverup
The TCI’s reputation as a safe and friendly destination is currently taking a beating in US media, as NBC New York has run a series of news stories regarding the ongoing Coroner’s Inquest into the death of Marie Kuhnla, a tourist from Long Island, New York, whose body was found in bushes near Club Med Resort in Providenciales in 2018.
Her death was subsequently ruled a homicide.
However, the Coroner’s Inquest means that the circumstances and conclusions around the death of Kuhnla is now being re-examined. According to NBC New York, the family of the deceased say that they believe that the police and Club Med are trying to coverup the murder of their loved one and that they find it strange that this Coroner’s Inquest has been called now in the midst of the family’s $10 million lawsuit against Club Med.
Local officials have not commented on this development in relation to this matter but RTC News has reached out to the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force and is awaiting a response..
Fortis TCI Continues to Promote Local Talent
Fortis TCI, the country’s sole energy supplier, has is continuing its track record of promoting local talent from within the company, having recently announced nine promotions.
Jerry Clerveaux has been promoted from Manager of ICT to Director of Enterprise Technology and will now be responsible for developing enterprise-wide technology innovation, and effective use of information systems to support the Company’s business objectives.
Robyn Forbes has been promoted from Senior Human Resource Officer to Manager of Learning and Development. In her new role, Fortis says that Forbes will assist in coordinating and administering the Company’s talent management and learning and development strategy, including life cycle management, and designing and implementing systems to meet the organization’s strategic goals and objectives.
Kerwin Arthur has been promoted from Senior Plant Operator to Plant Control Shift Supervisor. In his new capacity, Arthur will provide oversight of the senior and junior plant operators and manage the operational crew dispatch and coordination. He will also oversee the monitoring of the generating distribution system.
Other promotions included Kelorian Forbes, Jeffrey Desir, Navardo Arthur, Denzel Penn, Selvano Gardiner, and Franco Been being promoted to Powerline Technician Foreman, Powerline Technician, Substation Technician ll, Mechanical Technician ll, Mechanical Technician Level l, and Mechanical Technician lll respectively.
Commenting on these latest employee movements, FortisTCI President and CEO Ruth Forbes said that they are proud to have a strong track record where employees are promoted from within. Noting that this latest batch of career milestones reinforces the company’s focus on their people and aligns with their talent development strategy for the holistic development of their staff.
Forbes went on to say that they channel a significant amount of energy towards providing the right tools, training, and opportunities for employees to excel; and also strive to ensure that working with Fortis TCI is meaningful and employees experience a sense of belonging daily. She congratulated the nine team members.
E.U. lawmakers vote to ban gasoline car sales from 2035
European lawmakers have voted to ban the sale of new diesel and gasoline cars and vans in the E.U. from 2035, representing a significant shot in the arm to the region’s ambitious green goals.
On Wednesday, 339 MEPs in the European Parliament voted in favor of the plans, which had been proposed by the European Commission, the E.U.’s executive branch. There were 249 votes against the proposal, while 24 MEPs abstained.
It takes the European Union a step closer to its goal of cutting emissions from new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles by 100 percent in 2035, compared to 2021. By 2030, the target is an emissions reduction of 50 percent for vans and 55 percent for cars.
The Commission has previously said passenger cars and vans account for roughly 12 percent and 2.5 percent of the E.U.’s total CO2 emissions. MEPs will now undertake negotiations about the plans with the bloc’s 27 member states.
The U.K., meanwhile, wants to stop the sale of new diesel and gasoline cars and vans by 2030. It will require, from 2035, all new cars and vans to have zero tailpipe emissions. The U.K. left the E.U. on Jan. 31, 2020.
Dutch MEP Jan Huitema, who is part of the Renew Europe Group, welcomed the result of Wednesday’s vote. “I am thrilled that the European Parliament has backed an ambitious revision of the targets for 2030 and supported a 100 percent target for 2035, which is crucial to reach climate neutrality by 2050,” he said.
Others commenting on the news included Alex Keynes, clean vehicles manager at Brussels-based campaign group Transport & Environment. “The deadline means the last fossil fuel cars will be sold by 2035, giving us a fighting chance of averting runaway climate change,” Keynes said.
He also argued that the plans provide the car industry with the certainty it needed to “ramp up production of electric vehicles, which will drive down prices for drivers.”
Source-NBC
EDUCATION OFFICIALS TAKE TIME TO REFLECT AND REFOCUS
The Minister for Education, the Honourable Rachel Taylor, along with Permanent Secretary, Wesley Clerveaux, and other ministry officials took time out of the ministry’s busy schedule to hold a retreat aimed at reflecting on the work of the ministry thus far, such as major achievements, initiatives and challenges. It also focused on what the ministry will be doing moving forward.
The retreat was held at the Blue Haven Resort on Friday, 20 May. The theme of the event was “Honouring the Past, Treasuring the Present, Shaping the Future, Together We Can!”. The ministry says that this was the first time it has hosted an event of this nature.
In addressing her team, Honourable Taylor stated that she was quite pleased with the varied cross-section of personnel who was attending the short retreat and looked forward to a fruitful day of dialogue regarding the way forward for the ministry.
She went on to say that it was hoped that the retreat would enhance communication and the critical working relationships among the various departments as they all work together for the advancement of the country.
Training Manager of the HR Directorate, Dr. Thashana Burton-Thomas facilitated the event. Dr. Thomas noted that her role is to assist senior-level leaders to lead with purpose.
The event also featured a guest speaker in the person of local businessman, author and talk show host, Drexwell Seymour, who is a Certified Public Accountant, managing partner at HLB TCI, and former CEO of Cable & Wireless TCI.
The Ministry of Education has responsibility for directing the country’s strategic education goals and initiatives aimed at supporting the best educational opportunities for Turks and Caicos Islanders.
CDB's Youth Forum A Success: Features Turks and Caicos Islands Young Professionals
The Caribbean Youth for Innovation and Resilience (Youth FIRE) forum initiated by the Caribbean Development Bank as part of its 52nd Annual Meeting's series of events is dubbed a success. On Tuesday, June 7th, two panels featuring youth and future leaders tackled the most pressing concerns faced by young people across the region, focusing on the themes Climate Change and Health and Youth Employability: Skills for 21st Century Jobs.
The first panel focused on Climate Change and Health. This event garnered discussions on the realities of climate change and its impact on young people's physical and psychosocial health around the Caribbean region. Jamilla Sealy of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network and Dr. Colin Young, Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, provided innovative solutions that could be adapted across the region. The session, moderated by Dr. Keron Niles, Lecturer, Institute of International Relations at the University of the West Indies, received additional perspectives from climate change negotiator Onika Benn.
The second panel, Youth Employability: Skills for 21st Century Jobs, addressed job security in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion highlighted innovative future leaders creating employment opportunities within both the traditional and emerging sectors, critically highlighting the skills needed post-COVID-19, and addressing challenges and barriers to employment and entrepreneurship faced by disadvantaged groups.
The Panelists included Keithlin Caroo, Executive Director at Helen's Daughters, Nicholas Kee Community Lead of Developers Circle, and Malcolm Wills, Co-founder and Manager of Dynamic Enterprise and moderated by Tracy-Ann Ramkissoon, a banker and business continuity associate and moderated by Kendell Vincent, Chairman of the Caribbean Regional Youth Council. Dr. Anya Malcolm-Gibbs, a clinical psychologist and entrepreneur and assistant financial controller Mrs. Ariella Missick, both from the Turks and Caicos Islands, were contributors to the discussions.
Dr. Anya Malcolm-Gibbs, commenting on her participation on a regional platform, said, "I've been honoured to participate in the second segment, focusing on Youth employability. I love that youth and millennials from across the region were invited to share their unique perspective and how they have been challenged or propelled past limiting stigmas or barriers. Although it is an extremely brief segment, it is heart-warming to share snippets of my story and voice some suggestions", said Dr. Malcolm-Gibbs.
Mrs. Ariella Missick of the Turks and Caicos Islands said, "To say that it was an honour is an understatement. The opportunity to participate alongside remarkable and resilient young people and represent our Turks & Caicos was heartwarming. It was an experience that fueled my passion for lending my voice to impactful events like CDB's Youth Fire Forum. So once again, thank you for charging me with such intervention".
PGA Tour suspends members for playing at LIV Golf event
The PGA Tour has suspended all of its members who are playing in this week's Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational.
The tournament, being held at Centurion Club near London, is the most lucrative in the history of the game with a $25m (£20m) prize fund.
Six-time major winner Phil Mickelson is among the biggest names to be affected.
LIV Golf issued an immediate reply calling the PGA Tour "vindictive" and said this "deepens the divide between the Tour and its members".
The statement added: "It's troubling that the Tour, an organisation dedicated to creating opportunities for golfers to play the game, is the entity blocking golfers from playing.
"This certainly is not the last word on this topic. The era of free agency is beginning as we are proud to have a full field of players joining us in London, and beyond."
The PGA Tour released its statement 30 minutes after play had begun at Centurion, where 48 players are competing in the first of eight planned LIV Golf invitational events.
Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, who are both playing at the PGA Tour's Canadian Open this week, welcomed the ruling.
"Anybody that's shocked clearly hasn't been listening," two-time major winner Thomas said.
"They took that risk going into it, whether they thought it was a risk or not.
"I have great belief and great confidence in the PGA Tour and where we're going and continuing to grow to, and those guys just aren't going to be a part of it."
Thomas added: "They're obviously throwing so much money at people that it's very hard to turn down.
Source-BBC