PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT TUESDAY 22ND JUNE 2021
A PERSISTENT HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BEACHGOERS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION DUE TO THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT EAST AND SOUTHEAST BEACHES…RESIDENTS SHOULD LIMIT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND REMAIN HYDRATED DUE TO HEAT INDICES EXPECTED NEAR THE TRIPLE DIGITS…
NORTHWEST BAHAMAS:
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY, HOT AND HUMID WITH A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THE CHANCE OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. MOSTLY FAIR AND HUMID WITH A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
TURKS & CAICOS:
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY, HOT AND BREEZY WITH THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS THIS AFTERNOON. MOSTLY FAIR, WARM AND A BIT BREEZY TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: A SMALL CRAFT CAUTION REMAINS IN EFFECT.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS
SEAS: 4 TO 7 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE: 90°F 32° C HEAT INDEX: 103°F 39°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE: 77°F 25°C
SUNSET: 8:01PM SUNRISE: 6:21AM WED.
MOONRISE: 6:01PM MOONSET: 5:01AM WED.
LOW TIDE: 12:12PM HIGH TIDE: 6:41PM
LOW TIDE: 1:11AM WED. HIGH TIDE: 6:58AM WED.
WEATHER OUTLOOK: VARIABLE CLOUDINESS AND HOT WITH A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS…PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY, HOT AND BREEZY WITH THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF ISOLATED SHOWERS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS AS WELL AS THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: THERE IS ONE AREA THAT IS PRESENTLY BEING MONITORED AT THIS TIME: 1) SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE INCREASED IN COVERAGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TROPICAL WAVE LOCATED MORE THAN 500 MILES EAST OF THE WINDWARD ISLANDS. THIS DISTURBANCE HAS A VERY LOW CHANCE OF ONLY 30 PERCENT FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION THROUGH 5 DAYS.
Elizabeth Riley appointed Executive Director of CDEMA
The Chairman of the Council of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Honorable Vincent Byron Jr, Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, St Kitts-Nevis, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Elizabeth Riley as Executive Director of the Agency with effect from July 1, 2021.
Ms. Riley, a Barbadian national, joined the team at the CDEMA Coordinating Unit in 2001 and has been acting as Executive Director since May 1, 2020. Prior to this she held the post of Deputy Executive Director since April 2012. She also acted in the Deputy position between 2009 and 2012.
As Executive Director, she will be responsible for the provision of overall direction and leadership to CDEMA. This will include implementing the organization’s mandate through programme management including strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, resource mobilization, financial management, partnerships and stakeholder relationships, and corporate communications.
.
Ms. Riley has over 20 years’ experience in disaster management at the regional and international levels in various capacities. At CDEMA, she has inter alia provided leadership for the Agency’s technical programming and provided strategic guidance in the areas of Preparedness and Response, Mitigation, Recovery, Education and Training and Information Management. At the operational level, Ms. Riley has played a leadership role in the coordination of regional responses to every major regional emergency event since 2004. Her field experience includes the leadership of CDEMA deployment teams in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma (2017) and Dorian (2019). Ms. Riley is currently playing a leadership role in the coordination of the region’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, response to the eruption of the La Soufriere Volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the ongoing floods in Guyana and Suriname.
She has written, presented and published technical papers in disaster management and environmental management whilst attached to CDEMA and prior to that during her tenure at the University of the West Indies and the Ministry of Physical Development and Environment in Barbados. Ms. Riley has also lectured in Disaster Management at the University of the West Indies, Mona. At the international level, Ms. Riley has contributed to a range of technical advisory committees and is currently Vice-Chair of the ICG/Caribe Early Warning Systems Group of Experts on Coastal Hazards. She also sits on the Regional Advisory Group leading the implementation of the Regional Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean on Disaster Risk Management in the Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Sectors.
Ms. Riley holds a M.A (Econ) in Environment and Development from University of Manchester, United Kingdom, BSc. (Hons) in Geography from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica and a Masters Certificate in Results Based Monitoring and Evaluation and Information Systems from the University of Laval, Quebec.
CDEMA also takes this opportunity to welcome Ms Riley in her new position and wish her the very best in her tenure.
Jo-Ann Lawrence appointed as Community Preparedness Officer within the Disaster Management
The Ministry of Immigration and Broder Control is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Jo-Ann Lawrence to the post of Community Preparedness Officer within the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME), with the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands as of 1st June 2021. Ms. Lawrence would be stationed in North and Middle Caicos.
Jo-Ann Lawrence holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography from the University of the West Indies, Mona. Her career profile consists of over seven (7) years of experience in the field of Disaster Management. Her journey began at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) where she participated in various multi-hazard risk assessment projects and vulnerability studies in the Mitigation Planning and Research Division (MPRD). Her strengths include disaster risk management planning, vulnerability assessment, spatial analysis, research, cartography and GPS data collection.
Ms. Lawrence has made technical contributions to the development of disaster risks management plans such as the Ministry of Tourism’s Resort Area Disaster Risk Management Plan and the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (UN FAO) Agricultural Disaster Risk Management Strategy and Plan, both in Jamaica. She collaborated on community-based disaster risk management projects, coordinated and led training in GPS data collection activities, and carried out extensive research in the updating of the DesInventar Online database. Most recently, she assisted in the upscaling of Community Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation Plans for 14 communities across Jamaica.
Jo-Ann is an experienced cartographer and worked in the Surveys and Mapping Division at the National Land Agency (NLA) where she created and updated Topographic Master Map Series for Port Antonio and Negril communities (Jamaica). Her experiences also include developing community profiles, conducting hazard and facility vulnerability assessments, and organizing workshops/training events.
She is also proficient in GIS-based research and GPS mapping. She has experience applying these competencies to the mapping of vulnerable assets and emergency shelters throughout various Jamaican communities under the Adaptation Fund’s NegrilMulti-Hazard Risk Assessment (Climate Atlas component) and the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Hurricane Sandy Recovery Project, respectively.
Ms. Lawrence said “I am looking forward to working within the communities of North and Middle Caicos. I intend to enhance and cultivate a culture of readiness to disasters, both natural and human-induced by raising awareness on these events while simultaneously developing and executing comprehensive preparedness initiatives and activities. I am keen to reflect the DDME’s and by extension the Ministry’s goals and missions in these communities as it relates to the reduction of disaster impacts and risks.”
Honourable Arlington Musgrove commenting on the appointment of Ms. Lawrence stated “as the minister with responsibility for disaster management which includes all hazards that the TCI is vulnerable to, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Ms. Lawrence who is based in North Caicos, and I look forward to her contribution in enhancing disaster preparedness in the twin islands and by extension the Turks and Caicos Islands”.
PREMIER’S REMARKS: REBUILDING THE DREAM, A UNIFIED NATION
Burning deep inside every thinking person is the desire to achieve something great. The degree to which that desire supersedes self in the interest of the common good, determines the measure of a man.
An anonymous author penned the following words about the worth of a man as:
Not - How did he die? But - How did he live?
Not - What did he gain? But - What did he give?
Not - What did the sketch in the newspaper say?
But - How many were sorry when he passed away?
These are the things that measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth; and by that measure our National Hero the Right Most Excellent Honourable James Alexander George Smith McCartney was a great man.
He was affable, companionable and devoid of pretense. He was humble, self-confident and did not kneel to the inequities of his time. Elected at 31, he was still an idealist at heart; a central desire of his, being the achievement of self-determination for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
At a time when the Turks and Caicos was a largely undiscovered ‘backwater town’ constrained by a colonial mindset, McCartney had a big vision for a constitutional reform that would be inclusive of the rights of all Turks and Caicos Islanders.
As a young man himself, he was particularly concerned about the education and provision of opportunities for the youths of these Islands and the economic and social development of everyone. It was that desire that resulted in his demise in May of 1980 at the young age of 34. Much has changed since then, but many of the issues remain, and in some measure they have intensified.
His courage and bold determination to change the country for a common good was the catalyst that resulted in a paradigm shift in the minds of the youths, that anything could be achieved. It was also a major influence on the country's economic and social progress over the last 41 years since his passing.
However, the dream of a self-confident, self-assured, fully self-governed and unified people, is yet to be attained. JAGS was not only a visionary who dreamed big, he was a consensus builder - a unifying force for good. It is now up to us who remain, and the next generations to reclaim his dream of inclusive growth and unity of purpose.
I am fortunate to have known our national hero and to have been a witness to his charisma and empathic leadership style. He started a nation building construction project that every leader since has contributed to, albeit in a world of rapid change over the last 41 years; but principles never change even when priorities do. Standing on his shoulders, I challenge us to honour the sacrifice of the Right Most Excellent Honourable James Alexander George Smith McCartney by fresh commitment to the principle of duty, above self and deference towards each other to forge a united self-determining and prosperous nation under God. May this proclamation remain as this memorial resting place of our national hero and forever remind us of the importance of keeping the dream alive.
Deputy Governor and CSA President Meet to Discuss Key Public Service Matters
Deputy Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams and President of the Civil Service Association Mr. Demarco Williams held a briefing session recently to discuss key matters pertaining to the TCI Public Service.
The Deputy Governor took the opportunity to brief the President on behalf of the CSA on Cabinet’s recent approval of the reinstatement of the Public Service Pension and Gratuity program and the next steps involving the design of the program, legislation and other work which will be done through consultation.
She also updated on the public service recruitment program for 2021/2022, the focus of the Professional Development Fund and Training Program as well as other public service matters.
The President advised the success of the CSA’s Incentive and Rewards Program where to date partnerships had been made with over 20 business establishments to provide discounted services to public servants and his efforts to introduce a rewards program for outstanding public servants.
The President also during the meeting took the opportunity to provide the Deputy Governor with her CSA Membership card.
Commenting on the meeting and the continued work of the CSA, Deputy Governor Williams said:
“It is always a pleasure to meet with the CSA to update on the work that my office is doing as well as to hear from them on their continued work and plans.
As we both have very important jobs to do in representing the best interest of the public service, it is important that we work together in partnership in doing so.
I commend the CSA on the work that they are doing, particularly as it relates to their rewards and incentive program.
As a member of the CSA myself, I encourage staff that have not yet done so, to register to be a part of the organization that continues to work on their behalf.”
CSA President Demarco Williams on commenting said:
“It has taken a tremendous amount of work not only to build the Association but more importantly for Civil Servants to regain confidence in the Association. I would like to applaud my team for their continued support and encourage Civil Servants to be a part of this Great Association because Together we surely can move mountains.
I would also like to Thank the Deputy Governor and her office for continuing to work in collaboration with the Association in the best interest of all Civil Servants. “
The parties agreed to continue their monthly meetings going forward to discuss the process and concerns of the civil service and to work on potential projects that both organizations could collaborate on.
Hon. Akierra Missick procures critical Communication and Heavy equipment in Preparation for the 2021Hurricane Season.
Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Akierra Missick, has procured much needed Communication and Heavy equipment in Preparation for the 2021 Hurricane Season.
The Minister responsible for Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Akierra Missick, is pleased to announce that the Public Works Department was in need of communication equipment to complete their disaster preparedness throughout the years, however this year, the Ministry was able to secure funding and procure the much-needed equipment.
The Ministry purchased ten (10) Satellite Phones, sixteen (16) Handheld Radios and four (4) Base Radios for the purpose of enhancing communication capabilities for MPPID/PWD during disaster, from AMP Global Strategies, to aid in the preparations for Hurricane Season 2021The Satellite Phones and Handheld Radios have already arrived on island.
In addition, the Public Works Department has also issued a tender for Heavy Equipment, which is much needed to assist in many aspects during disaster, including removal of debris and clearing of pathways, during the Hurricane Season. Some of the items were already delivered to the Ministry and the remaining equipment will be delivered at the end of August.
The Hon. Akierra Missick commented, “ As the Minister of Public Works, and a survivor of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, it is not lost on me that the loss of connectivity post-disaster between the Islands can delay the activating of TCIG’s recovery plan. By tooling the Public Works Department with this equipment, we are in a better position to communicate with our team members across the Islands and provide another layer of support to our colleagues in DDME.”
Car buyers still sceptical about going electric
Consumers are still sceptical about electric cars and switching from petrol and diesel remains "a real challenge", the boss of Ford UK has told the BBC.
Lisa Brankin said more government support for the electric car market would be needed ahead of a proposed ban on new petrol and diesel sales in 2030.
Research from energy regulator Ofgem suggests 6.5 million households plan to buy electric cars by 2030.
But the number of electric vehicles (EVs) currently in use remains low.
Research from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) found EVs account for just over 1% of the 35 million vehicles on UK roads.
However, numbers are increasing, with sales of battery-powered vehicles more than doubling last year while the number of plug-in hybrids also grew by more than a third.
Ms Brankin, managing director at Ford of Britain and Ireland in an interview with the BBC added, "Most other people were still concerned about a number of things - range, the charging infrastructure, the lack of information available to customers and obviously the price as well.
On the cost of electric vehicles, she said: "We do recognise that that is an issue and that's why we've been calling on government to continue to support the whole range of battery electric vehicles.
The government's goal to phase out vehicles which generate tailpipe emissions is part of a wider plan to make the UK carbon neutral by 2050.
The RAC said in May the UK's charging network would need to grow "exponentially" to cope as electric vehicle sales surged.
Sales have risen rapidly, partly due to strict new emissions rules in the EU which have forced manufacturers to invest billions in new zero-emission models.
A report from the Public Accounts Committee released this month warned the government had no plan to meet the "huge challenge" of persuading motorists to switch to electric vehicles by 2030. The same report said only 13 electric car models on sale in the UK at the moment cost less than £30,000.
Ms Brankin said the company wanted to see a "comprehensive plan" from the government for the switch to electric vehicles "that involves all stakeholders and not just car manufacturers."
The government has said it is investing £2.8bn to help the car industry and drivers make the switch to electric and the added EV costs will fall as production grows around the world.
Source-BBC
Snapchat removes controversial speed filter
Snapchat is removing a feature that displays how fast a user is travelling when taking a picture or video footage.
Parent company Snap said it was because the speed filter was "barely used".
But the company is being sued by the parents of two young men, who allege the filter encouraged their sons to drive at dangerous speeds and three deaths were due to "negligent design".
Snap said it had already "disabled the filter at driving speeds", capping it at 35mph (56km/h), and added a warning.
"Nothing is more important than the safety of our Snapchat community," a representative added.
It will take a few weeks to disappear from the app of the 500 million people who use Snapchat.
Three men, two 17-year-olds and a 20-year-old, died when a car crashed into a tree, in Wisconsin, in 2017.
"Shortly before 19:00, the car began accelerating to a speed significantly above the speed limit and one Snap captured the boys' speed at 123mph," according to court documents.
"Regardless of whether Snap intended to encourage dangerous speeding, Snap knew or should have known that it was, in fact, encouraging speeding."
Snap had previously defended the feature in the face of warnings from safety campaigners, according to NPR.
Source-BBC
10,000 Japanese fans will be permitted at Olympic venues
As many as 10,000 Japanese fans will be permitted at Tokyo 2020 Olympic venues, despite warnings from health bosses.
Overseas spectators are already banned but organisers said domestic fans could attend providing crowds did not exceed 50% of a venue's capacity.
Fans will not be allowed to shout or speak loudly, and must wear face masks at all times while in venues.
The Olympics are scheduled to begin on 23 July, while the Paralympics follow a month later, from 24 August.
Spectator numbers for the Paralympics will be confirmed by 16 July, said a joint statement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, the Tokyo metropolitan government and the government of Japan.
The decision to allow spectators comes despite the release of a report last week by Japanese medical experts that said holding the Games without spectators was the "least risky" and most desirable option.
"There are so many cases, domestically and internationally [of] sports events with spectators," said Tokyo 2020 organising committee president Seiko Hashimoto.
"By exercising thorough measures and based on the government criteria, we believe we can hold the Games with spectators.
"The entire world is facing the same issues and we have to work together to overcome them."
Delegates and sponsors will be classed as organisers, and therefore will not be included in the 10,000 spectator limit.
Should there be a rapid increase in Covid-19 infections and impact on Japan's healthcare systems, the five parties will consider further restrictions.
This could include further reducing spectator numbers at venues.
There are fears that the Games may trigger a surge in coronavirus infections in Japan.
As a result, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga last week encouraged the Japanese public to watch the Games on television, rather than attending events in person.
On Sunday, a state of emergency in Tokyo was lifted, five weeks before the start of the Olympics.
Emergency Covid-19 restrictions had been in place in Japan's capital and other prefectures since late April amid a surge in infections.
However, some "quasi-emergency" measures will remain in some areas, including Tokyo, until 11 July.
On Saturday, a Ugandan athlete was the first to test positive for Covid-19 on arrival in Japan.
Source-BBC
American Airlines cancels hundreds of flights amid staffing, maintenance issues
Hundreds of American Airlines flights have been canceled this weekend and Monday because of significant staffing and maintenance issues.
As of Sunday afternoon, 123 flights were canceled Saturday, 178 on Sunday and 97 were canceled for Monday – largely the result of a high number of sick calls, combined with maintenance and other staffing issues.
American told ABC News that most of the cancelations are on A320 and 737 aircraft, but that it may continue to cancel at least 50 to 60 flights per day for the rest of June and 50 to 80 flights per day through July.
American said it will attempt to notify customers far in advance of their flights and provide an opportunity for customers to rebook on alternative flights through its app.
All U.S. airlines and the Transportation Security Administration have struggled with staffing as air travel has rapidly jumped from historic lows to approaching pre-pandemic levels.
Source-ABC