Caribbean countries to benefit from new funding agreement
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has launched a US$20 million fund to strengthen green fiscal policies in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
The project has been launched in collaboration with the German government.
The trust fund will finance country-specific technical assistance projects. It will also help create a regional knowledge-sharing platform for finance ministries to exchange best practices in the design and implementation of climate-related fiscal policies.
“A strong partnership between Latin America, the Caribbean, and Germany is important for us given the region’s great potential for innovative climate action and fundamental role for achieving our common goals of the Paris Agreement”, said Germany’s State Secretary at the Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety Jochen Flasbarth.
“I am delighted that my ministry joins forces with the IDB to increase transparency, effectiveness, and efficiency of climate-related fiscal policies in the region.”
IDB President Mauricio Claver-Carone said Latin America and the Caribbean has a tremendous opportunity to accelerate its economic recovery with fiscal policies that build its resilience against extreme weather events and attract green investments.
”This partnership with the German government will allow us to help finance ministries foster a just transition towards greener economies and advance some of the key priorities of our Vision 2025 blueprint to boost recovery in our region,” he added.
The announcement comes as climate change exerts increased pressure on fiscal balances and public debt in Latin America and the Caribbean. The LACs are looking to strengthen policies addressing climate change and meet ambitious greenhouse gas emission goals under the Paris Agreement. A recent IDB study on fiscal policy and climate change estimates that decarbonization policies could help create 15 million net new jobs in the region by 2030.
The fund is comprised of financial resources donated by the German government and managed by the IDB.
It will support ministries of finance design national climate finance strategies and instruments, develop, and implement of fiscal policy instruments and methodologies to track and evaluate climate-related public resources and expenditures, promote partnerships and exchange knowledge on green fiscal policies, and build capacity on matters related to fiscal policies and climate change management.
The fund will also support a dedicated platform for ministries of finance to foster continuous dialogue on planning, green budgeting, carbon taxation, low carbon and resilient investments, sustainable PPPs, and green finance. The platform will help exchange lessons learned regarding adaptation and mitigation fiscal strategies, among other climate challenges.
The IDB and Germany have a long-standing partnership on climate change. In 2015, both parties issued a joint statement committing them to assist the Bank’s member countries in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change.
Germany was also a core participant to the IDB’s first climate initiative, the Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative in 2007, and has provided contributions and technical support to IDB operation in areas such as green bonds, renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure, and water and sanitation.
Source-CMC
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2022/2023 ELECTORS REGISTER ONGOING
The Supervisor of Elections has advised that the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Register of Electors is currently being up-dated and a new Register will be published on March 31st, 2022.
Individuals who are not on the current Register but wish to be included in the new Register of Electors will have until November 30, 2021 to contact the Elections Office with the relevant documentation.
Registration for inclusion on the Elector’s Register is an ongoing process however, in accordance with the Elections Ordinance an up-dated Register is due March 31st each year.
The Supervisor encourages new applicants to apply to be included on the Register, especially those who have turned 17 years old, also those who are 18 years and older and did not apply to be included in the 2020/2021 Register.
He noted “Eligible voters on the present Register of Electors do not need to re-apply to be included in the 2022/2023 Register, they will be automatically included unless they notify the Elections Office that they have changed their name or place of residence, or no longer meet the eligibility criteria and this includes being resident in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) for at least 12 out of 24 months”.
Individuals seeking to be registered MUST be in possession of a TCI Status Card issued by the Ministry of Border Control and those not in possession are advised to apply for one prior to registration.
Potential new Electors should complete the required voter registration application Form and those who have already obtained the Status Card but did not submit an application are being encouraged to prepare and submit it during this process.
Voter Registration Application Forms for inclusion on the TCI Register of Electors for 2022/2023 can be obtained from the Elections Office in Grand Turk (Arthur Lightbourne Building, Pond Street) or Providenciales Butterfield Square) or the District Commissioner’s Office in Salt Cay, South Caicos, Middle Caicos (Conch Bar) and North Caicos Bottle Creek).
For further information on the voter registration process, please contact the Elections Department Grand Turk (Telephone number 649-338-2304 or 649-338-2301) or Supervisor of Elections Telephone number 649-246-7742 email dllewis@gov.tc or Providenciales Elections Office (Telephone number 649-338-4681).
For information on the verification of TC Islander status and issuing of TC Islander Status Cards, please contact the Ministry of Border Control and Employment Services.
GRAND TURK COMMUNITY HOLDS CLEAN-UP
On Saturday 30th October, Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR) collaborated with Turks and Caicos National Trust and members of the H.J Robinson High and Basketball Committee, in a general cleanup across Grand Turk.
Community members assisted in cleaning up Governor's Beach, and Sunset Cabana - Home sweet Home. The initiative was a great success with a total of 70 bags of trash collected!
The DECR would like to extend a special 'thanks!' to all who participated, your time and efforts in keeping the environment clean and pristine are highly appreciated! Regular clean-ups are important in ensuring that critical bird nesting / feeding and marine habitats remain in peak condition for a healthy and safe environment for our local wildlife. As we see an increase in migratory birds returning to, or flying through, the islands, the onus is on us as a community to ensure that our local ecosystem is one that can be used for rest and respite by these creatures on their long travels.
The DECR continues to strive to maintain the Turks and Caicos Islands' slogan "Beautiful by Nature Clean... by Choice" and may we continue to cherish and take pride in our beautiful islands.
American cancels more than 2,000 flights since Friday amid staffing issues, bad weather
American Airlines has canceled more than 2,000 flights since Friday -- stranding tens of thousands of passengers temporarily at U.S. airports across the country. American is just the latest airline to suffer crippling logistical failures amid staffing shortages.
American has already canceled 300 flights Monday morning, but anticipates they will get through "the brief irregular ops period quickly with the start of a new month."
A staffing boost from the 1,800 American flight attendants set to return from leave Monday should help American re-stabilize this week, experts said.
Southwest had a similar operational meltdown three weeks ago when the airline canceled 2,000 flights over three days. In response, the airline said it's going to hire more than 5,000 employees by the end of the year to mitigate future issues and has 50 percent of the goal met.
Experts are worried American and Southwest's inability to stabilize their schedules quickly is a potential warning of what to expect for holiday travel.
Source-ABC
Netball to be included in CAC Games for the first time
Netball will be included at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games for the very first time, when the 24th edition of the event takes place in San Salvador, El Salvador in 2023, as a result of the advocacy of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA).
“Netball got, deservedly, our approval to take a seat at the regional table and with this accomplishment, the journey now begins to globalise the sport and the JOA stands ready to again play a signal role,” said JOA president Christopher Samuda, who is also a member of the Executive Board of Centro Caribe Sports which owns the CAC Games.
“We at the JOA understood that in order to become a resident of the household of multi-sport games of the Olympic movement, the sport had to muscle its way to first in the line and present, persuasively, credentials for occupancy.”
Netball is an established sport in English-speaking regional territories and is now a staple item on the sporting agenda of Spanish-speaking countries.
Secretary General and CEO of the JOA, Ryan Foster, said he was never in doubt the sport would transition.
“I have the privilege of sitting on the Technical Commission of Centro Caribe Sports and from the get-go, I inked my finger and campaigned for netball for I was confident that the sport’s credentials would result in a landslide victory,” he said.
Panama was due to host the 2022 CAC Games from April 22 to May 8, but pulled out in light of COVID-19 concerns.
Late last month, a contract for San Salvador to stage the Games in 2023 was signed by Centro Caribe Sports and authorities in the host nation.
It will be the third time the CAC Games are being held in Sal Salvador, following the 1935 and 2002 editions of the event.
Source-CMC
A united Caribbean position at COP 26
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders are using the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to outline the region’s position on the impact of climate change on their economies.
The regional leaders are steadfast in the position that if the global average air temperature rises above 1.5 degree Celsius it will have consequences for their local economies.
Among the actions being advocated for are the reduction in gas emissions from burning fossil fuels like oil, speeding up a transition to the use of more renewable sources of energy (such as solar and hydro energy) and adequate financing to help small, developing countries to become more resilient to climate change.
They support the idea that to reach a 1.5-degree pathway, new cultivation approaches would need to prevail, leading to a 53 percent reduction in the intensity of methane emissions from rice cultivation by 2050. Finally, about one-third of global food output is currently lost in production or wasted in consumption.
Source-CMC
Another Illegal Landing in Providenciales
RTC News is learning that on the October 27th, 20201 at around 8:00 pm, the Immigration Department received a report from 911 about a possible illegal vessel landing in the North West Point area of Providenciales. Our team immediately contacted the other law enforcement agencies to make them aware of the situation for mobilization. Shortly thereafter, another member of our enforcement team received another call from 911 confirming the landing of an illegal vessel.
Upon arriving on the scene, the Immigration Enforcement team was met by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and the TCI Regiment. Joint searches were subsequently carried out in the North West Point Area which resulted in the apprehension of two (2) female individuals who were taken to the Detention Center for further questioning/investigation, and will be held until they are repatriated to Haiti.
The Department recognizes and commend the vigilance of our partners the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and the TCI Regiment for their joint efforts last evening.
The Ministry is cognizant that spending in relation to repatriation continues to be a tremendous financial and social burden to the country, particularly at this time. This spending has to compete with other critical Ministry and National priorities.
Hon. Akierra Missick, the acting Minister for Immigration and Border Services stated “We are asking Residents in these Islands to discourage any friends and or family members who may be seeking to enter these Islands unlawfully. We know these are not passengers just seeking a better life but a form of Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking. Significant changes are being rolled to the structure and scope of the Immigration Task Force and ancillary agencies and we’ll be launching a streamlined and fully integrated Border Protection system from our airports, seaports and historic unlawful entry landing sites. This is a strong plea for those who are operating within this sphere to cease and desist.”
The public is reminded that a person who is found to be in contravention of the Immigration Ordinance and commits an offence of harbouring is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $20,000.00 or to imprisonment for a term of four years, or to both.
The public is also being urged to provide the Police or Immigration Officials with tips, or any information related to this or any other illegal landing or persons residing and or working illegally.
The police reminded our newsroom that they are encouraging the public to submit information or tips anonymously in English, French or Spanish either to www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA on 1-800-84477.
CDC panel meeting on vaccinating young kids
An independent CDC advisory panel will convene Tuesday morning, around 11 a.m. ET, to debate and hold a non-binding vote on whether to recommend the Pfizer vaccine for the roughly 28 million kids ages 5 to 11 in the U.S. A vote is expected by 4 p.m. ET.
If the panel decides to move ahead, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky must sign off on those specific recommendations, which would likely happen Tuesday evening.
No pediatric vaccinations will start until Walensky gives the green light. If that happens Tuesday evening, shots could start going into younger children's arms beginning Wednesday.
The White House has purchased 65 million Pfizer pediatric vaccine doses -- more than enough to fully vaccine all American children in this age group.
The news comes as 101,000 child COVID-19 cases were reported last week, marking the eighth consecutive week of declines in pediatric infections since the pandemic peak of nearly 252,000 cases in early September, according to the American Academy ofPediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association.
Manchin deals heavy new blow to Biden's hopes for social spending, climate policy bill
A clearly frustrated Senator Joe Manchin dealt a new and heavy blow to President Joe Biden's hopes for getting his agenda passed on Monday.
Manchin said House Democrats should "stop playing games" with the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and told progressive lawmakers in the lower chamber that "holding the bill hostage" won't earn his support for the $1.75 trillion social spending package.
House progressives have repeatedly withheld support for the bipartisan infrastructure bill -- or "BIF" for bipartisan infrastructure framework -- using it as leverage to ensure more of their priorities, many of which Manchin opposes, are included in the social spending and climate policy bill.
Manchin said he's continuing to work in good faith on finding a compromise reconciliation package but seemed to call out progressives on their lack of willingness to budge.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki issued a statement countering Manchin's concerns and stating the Biden White House is "confident" he will go along.
Source-ABC
Cardi B to host the 2021 American Music Awards
Cardi B is set to host the 2021 American Music Awards, airing later this month on ABC.
It marks the five-time AMA winner’s first time hosting the event. She previously took the AMAs stage to perform “I Like It” in 2018 with J Balvin and Bad Bunny. She's also the first female rapper to win the AMA for Favorite Hip Hop Song twice.
"When I received the invite to host the AMAs, I was so excited,“ Cardi B says in a statement. "I'm ready to bring my personality to the AMAs stage! Thank you to [executive producer] Jesse Collins, ABC and MRC for making this happen."
The nominations for the 2021 American Music Awards were announced Thursday morning and first-time nominee Olivia Rodrigo leads the pack with a total of seven nods.
Olivia scored a nomination in the coveted Artist of the Year category, where she'll be up against Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, BTS, Drake and The Weeknd. Taylor currently holds the record for the most career AMA wins, at 32.
The Weeknd is the second-most nominated artist this year with with six nominations, followed close behind by Bad Bunny, Doja Cat and R&B singer Giveon, with five apiece.
The 2021 American Music Awards will take place Sunday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. ET. The ceremony will broadcast live on ABC.
Here's a list of the nominees:
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande
BTS
Drake
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
24kGoldn
Giveon
Masked Wolf
Olivia Rodrigo
The Kid LAROI
COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
24kGoldn ft. iann dior “Mood”
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez “DÁKITI”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
Doja Cat ft. SZA “Kiss Me More”
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & Giveon “Peaches”
FAVORITE TRENDING SONG
Erica Banks “Buss It”
Måneskin “Beggin’”
Megan Thee Stallion “Body”
Olivia Rodrigo “drivers license”
Popp Hunna “Adderall (Corvette Corvette)”
FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak) “Leave The Door Open”
Cardi B “Up”
Lil Nas X “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)”
Olivia Rodrigo “drivers license”
The Weeknd “Save Your Tears”
FAVORITE MALE POP ARTIST
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Justin Bieber
Lil Nas X
The Weeknd
FAVORITE FEMALE POP ARTIST
Ariana Grande
Doja Cat
Dua Lipa
Olivia Rodrigo
Taylor Swift
FAVORITE POP DUO OR GROUP
AJR
BTS
Glass Animals
Maroon 5
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)
FAVORITE POP ALBUM
Ariana Grande, Positions
Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia
Olivia Rodrigo, SOUR
Taylor Swift, evermore
The Kid LAROI, F*CK LOVE
FAVORITE POP SONG
BTS “Butter”
Doja Cat ft. SZA “Kiss Me More”
Dua Lipa “Levitating”
Olivia Rodrigo “drivers license”
The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Save Your Tears (Remix)”
FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST
Chris Stapleton
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Luke Combs
*Morgan Wallen
FAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST
Carrie Underwood
Gabby Barrett
Kacey Musgraves
Maren Morris
Miranda Lambert
FAVORITE COUNTRY DUO OR GROUP
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Lady A
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
FAVORITE COUNTRY ALBUM
Chris Stapleton, Starting Over
Gabby Barrett, Goldmine
Lee Brice, Hey World
Luke Bryan, Born Here Live Here Die Here
*Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album
FAVORITE COUNTRY SONG
Chris Stapleton “Starting Over”
Chris Young & Kane Brown “Famous Friends”
Gabby Barrett “The Good Ones”
Luke Combs “Forever After All”
Walker Hayes “Fancy Like”
FAVORITE MALE HIP-HOP ARTIST
Drake
Lil Baby
Moneybagg Yo
Polo G
Pop Smoke
FAVORITE FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTIST
Cardi B
Coi Leray
Erica Banks
Megan Thee Stallion
Saweetie
FAVORITE HIP-HOP ALBUM
Drake “Certified Lover Boy”
Juice WRLD “Legends Never Die”
Megan Thee Stallion “Good News”
Pop Smoke “Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon”
Rod Wave “SoulFly”
FAVORITE HIP-HOP SONG
Cardi B “Up”
Internet Money ft. Gunna, Don Toliver & NAV “Lemonade”
Lil Tjay ft. 6LACK “Calling My Phone”
Polo G “RAPSTAR”
Pop Smoke “What You Know Bout Love”
FAVORITE MALE R&B ARTIST
Chris Brown
Giveon
Tank
The Weeknd
Usher
FAVORITE FEMALE R&B ARTIST
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Jazmine Sullivan
Jhené Aiko
SZA
FAVORITE R&B ALBUM
Doja Cat, Planet Her
Giveon, When It’s All Said And Done… Take Time
H.E.R., Back of My Mind
Jazmine Sullivan, Heaux Tales
Queen Naija, missunderstood
FAVORITE R&B SONG
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak) “Leave The Door Open”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
Giveon “Heartbreak Anniversary”
H.E.R. “Damage”
Jazmine Sullivan “Pick Up Your Feelings”
FAVORITE MALE LATIN ARTIST
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna
Rauw Alejandro
FAVORITE FEMALE LATIN ARTIST
Becky G
Kali Uchis
KAROL G
Natti Natasha
ROSALÍA
FAVORITE LATIN DUO OR GROUP
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Calibre 50
Eslabon Armado
La Arrolladora Banda El Limón De Rene Camacho
Los Dos Carnales
FAVORITE LATIN ALBUM
Bad Bunny “EL ÚLTIMO TOUR DEL MUNDO”
Kali Uchis “Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)”
KAROL G “KG0516”
Maluma “PAPI JUANCHO”
Rauw Alejandro “Afrodisíaco”
FAVORITE LATIN SONG
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez “DÁKITI”
Bad Bunny x ROSALÍA “LA NOCHE DE ANOCHE”
Farruko “Pepas”
Kali Uchis “telepatía”
Maluma & The Weeknd “Hawái (Remix)”
FAVORITE ROCK ARTIST
AJR
All Time Low
Foo Fighters
Glass Animals
Machine Gun Kelly
FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL ARTIST
CAIN
Carrie Underwood
Elevation Worship
Lauren Daigle
Zach Williams
FAVORITE GOSPEL ARTIST
Kanye West
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Maverick City Music
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
FAVORITE DANCE/ELECTRONIC ARTIST
David Guetta
ILLENIUM
Marshmello
Regard
Tiësto
The AMAs air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 21, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and will be streaming the next day on Hulu.
Source-ABC
NICHOLAS ARCULUS APPOINTED AS THE NEW REGISTRAR OF LANDS
The Hon. Attorney General Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles OBE QC is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Nicholas Arculus to the office of Registrar of Lands. Mr. Arculus succeeds former Registrar of Lands, Ms Brandie Anderson, following an open competition for the post.
Mr Arculus is an English qualified lawyer with a long record of public service. Mr Arculus has relocated from the Isle of Man where he served for five years as Registrar for the purposes of the Land Registration Act. Mr Arculus moved to the Isle of Man (a Crown Dependency) from the Falkland Islands (an overseas territory) where he served as Crown Counsel. Mr Arculus is originally from Peterborough, UK where he qualified as a solicitor following education at Oxford University and the Inns of Court School of Law.
Commenting on his appointment Mr Arculus said:
“I am honoured to be appointed to serve as Registrar of Lands and Assistant Collector of Stamp Duty with the Turks and Caicos Island Government.
It is the ambition of all Land Registries to achieve full registration. The Turks and Caicos Islands are famous within Land Registry circles in the Commonwealth for having been fully registered for over half a century and this is a testament to the fine traditions of the TCIG public service.
The Land Registry serves the people of the Islands and is a public register as opposed to a Government register. I am grateful to the support the Hon Attorney General and the Commissioner of Land provide to the Land Registry in delivering its existing services and to their commitment to facilitating the delivery of improvements to the operations and the accessibility of the Register of Title under this administration.”
The Hon. Attorney General, in extending her welcome to Mr Arculus said:
“I am very pleased with the appointment of Mr Arculus as the new Registrar of Lands.
Mr Arculus is an experienced public service lawyer with exemplary experience with land and deed registration in several relevant jurisdictions. His work in promoting transparency and access to the Land Register in the Isle of Man is an example of something that we would like to emulate to ensure ever greater transparency and to improve efficiency within the Land Registry here as part of the government’s e-Government programme.
Mr Arculus now heads up an excellent team at the Land Registry but will face a challenging task in delivering improvements as the Registry continues to recover from the disruption of storm damage and of the pandemic which has created unique difficulties for the Land Registry.
I want to publicly thank Toni-Ann Foster and Naomi Been for their stellar leadership during the long period of vacancy in the Registrar of Lands post. Working with their hard working small team, they have kept the service delivery standards high.”
The Hon. Attorney General further stated, “Mr Arculus’ experience will be invaluable to lead the Land Registry through a period of major transformation, particularly where the Land Registry will become an early model of the government’s e-Government programme”.