TCI's Immigration Minister, Hon. Arlington Musgrove addresses Smuggled Syrian article
A newspaper article released over the weekend entitled," Syrian smuggled through TCI on Haitian Sloop.." has created an opportunity for the Minister of Immigration, the Hon. Arlington Musgrove to step forward and set the record straight for his Government.
In the Sun's article, the editor in chief stated, ' that many other Syrians have been been able to elude law enforcement authorities and successfully made it to the U.S & Canada"
In response, the Minister added that I have read with interest an article in one of the local newspapers, speaking about a Syrian national being smuggled through these Turks and Caicos Islands.
To set the record straight, here are the facts as I know them:
On 8th January 2021 around 8:23am members of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force- Marine Division found a boat in Turk and Caicos Islands waters, in the Northwest Point area of Providenciales, with just one person on board, at the time.
It would later be determined that the boat, which entered the TCI illegally would have had a total of twenty-five (25) persons on board, including twenty-two (22) males of which Mr. Moin Alhashash, was one and three (3) Haitian females.
Mr. Moin was able to be interviewed in creole, through an interpreter, as he spoke creole, having spent fourteen (14) months in Haiti, where he learned the language.
It was never Mr. Moin’s intention to remain in the TCI, as his plan was to go to the United States (Miami, FL), having paid the captain of the Haitian sloop four thousand (US$4,000.00) dollars.
Mr. Moin was arrested and charged by members of the Enforcement Unit under the Immigration Ordinance for the offence of “Unlawful Entry,” to which he pleaded guilty.
The matter was heard before the Chief Justice on 22nd March 2021. Mr. Moin was sentenced to time served and suspended the recommendation for deportation for 6 months.
Subsequent to the hearing and having been advised of the outcome by the Deputy Director of Prosecutions, the Immigration Authorities set matters in motion to secure alternative accommodation for Mr. Moin. By the time application for the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus in respect of Mr. Moin was heard before the Supreme Court on 30th March 2021, those arrangements were well advanced and Mr. Moin had been safely relocated by 2:00pm the same day. The release makes the proposed issuance of the writ nugatory and of no effect.
I hasten to add, that the contents of the story are somewhat misleading in certain respects and paints a distorted picture of my Immigration Department and staff. The flagrant allegations of abuse of statutory power is regrettable. The Immigration authorities are not infallible and have made some mistakes, but endeavor as much as possible to keep their processes and operations within the four corners of the law and do not believe themselves to be a superior force entitled to operate above the law.
I can safely say that we have begun to review our processes within the Immigration Detention Center, a process which we will continue to do every six (6) months, with the assistance of our Senior Managers, Legal advisers and other independent and experienced personnel, aimed at improving our staff and services to the public. There is ongoing training in key problem areas and post mortem reports and reviews. Out of these reviews, there were recommendations for improvement and bridging of gaps in both Immigration legislation and policy development and the implementation process for these recommendations has commenced.
It must be noted contrary to assertions made that the Immigration Authorities take seriously any matter of detention and fully understand the constitutional implications of prolonged or any detention.
I should state that the Sri Lankan matter should not be used as a yardstick to measure the competence of the Immigration Department to adequately manage the entry of unlawful immigrants, their detention and eventual removal from the Turks and Caicos Islands. The situation with the Sri Lankans was unique and complex and presented its own peculiar challenges, which necessitated the assistance of specially trained investigators. The immediate repatriation of the Sri Lankans was inhibited by the Covid -19 pandemic and eventual closure of jurisdictional borders. That being said, there have been lessons learned and indicators for improvement in certain areas and efforts are already on stream to address these issues.
Our standard operating procedures and rules have been set against best world practices and probably mirrors that of the UK. However, we recognize that these procedures require continuous review and oversight and we have already secured assistance to review and update our existing procedures.
In addition, we have the full-time assistance of the Attorney General’s Chambers staff, who continue to work with us, when called upon to do so.
Finally, we want to once again encourage all those persons residing among us illegally to leave the TCI as soon as possible or face the consequences added Hon. Musgrove.
China's biggest car brand to launch rival to Tesla
China's biggest carmaker Geely is launching a premium electric car brand it hopes will take on Tesla.
The Chinese company, which owns Volvo and Lotus, announced its Zeekr brand on Tuesday to tap into China's demand for electric vehicles (EVs).
It comes as Elon Musk goes on the charm offensive in China praising its plans to tackle carbon emissions.
The Tesla founder has seeking to allay Chinese concerns about his cars' onboard cameras.
Geely said it would develop and manufacture high-end EVs under the Zeekr brand and expected to begin deliveries in the third quarter of 2021.
It already has exposure to premium electric cars through the brands it owns. Polestar, owned by Volvo Cars, develops electric performance cars. It is headquartered in Sweden with vehicle production taking place in China.
Lotus, which is majority-owned by Geely, is working on an electric-powered supercar called Evija.
Geely also owns London black cab maker, the London EV Company, and has focused on building plug-in hybrid taxis, which have both a petrol engine and electric battery.
Zeekr, its own home-grown EV brand, will face fierce competition from Tesla whose Model 3 was the top-selling electric vehicle model in China last year. It will also compete with Chinese groups Nio, Xpeng and Li Auto which are seeing healthy sales.
Last week, Dongfeng Motor, the Chinese partner of Japan's Nissan and PSA Peugeot Citroen of France, said its new EV brand Voyah could start delivering cars to Chinese customers in July.
Beijing wants more than a fifth of vehicles sold in China to be electric by 2025.
Geely has ambitions to become China's first global automaker with a reach similar to Volkswagen. Along with its Volvo and Lotus brands, it owns a minority stake in Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler.
The initial strategy for Zeekr will be focused on the Chinese market but it will also explore overseas opportunities given rising global demand for premium electric vehicles.
The premium brand will operate under a new entity named Lingling Technologies, which will be based in Hefei, eastern China.
Source-BBC
Janet Yellen pledges greater US international co-operation
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has signalled a stronger engagement on issues from climate change to human rights to tax evasion, pledging to restore America's economic leadership.
"America first must never mean America alone," she said in her first major speech on its overseas economic policy.
Ms Yellen is also keen for greater global co-operation, rolling back Donald Trump's protectionist policies.
She also raised the issue of a global corporate tax rate.
"Over the last four years, we have seen first hand what happens when America steps back from the global stage," Ms Yellen said pointing to a reversal of Mr Trump's international economic policies.
The US "isolated ourselves and retreated from the international order that we created," she added.
Marking an American return to the global stage, she said: "For in today's world, no country alone can suitably provide a strong and sustainable economy for its people."
As part of the increased global leadership role for the US, Ms Yellen outlined the case for a harmonised corporate tax rate across the world's major economies.
"Together we can use a global minimum tax to make sure the global economy thrives based on a more level playing field in the taxation of multinational corporations, and spurs innovation, growth and prosperity," Yellen said during an online interview with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Corporate taxes are one of the revenue-raising proposals for President Joe Biden's $2.25 trillion (£1.62 trillion) package of infrastructure and other spending announced last week.
Ms Yellen wants to halt what she described as an international "race to the bottom" by countries competing to lure corporations with lower taxes.
While she said the Biden-Harris administration is committed to helping "make the world economy stronger" she added that it also wanted to "advance American interests".
Ms Yellen hinted at a softer approach towards the growing threat of China, which the US is still embroiled in a trade war with.
"Our economic relationship with China, like our broader relationship with China, will be competitive where it should be, collaborative where it can be, and adversarial where it must be," she added.
Source-BBC
Amid wastewater overflow threat, Florida officials urge residents to heed evacuation orders
Florida officials are urging residents in the surrounding areas of a wastewater storage pond to heed evacuation orders ahead of a potential overflow of polluted water.
On Friday, the Manatee County Public Safety Department warned of an "imminent threat" of an uncontrolled release of wastewater from the former Piney Point phosphate processing plant in Palmetto after a breach was detected in one of the walls of the southern reservoir, which holds about 800 million gallons of water containing phosphorus and nitrogen.
An estimated 300 million gallons of water remained in the pond as of Sunday, acting Manatee County Administrator Dr. Scott Hopes told reporters Sunday.
Residents within a 1-mile radius of the plant were ordered to evacuate, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency Saturday in Manatee County as well as neighboring Hillsborough and Pinellas counties over the threat.
The pond where the leak was discovered contains stacks of phosphogypsum, a radioactive byproduct from manufacturing fertilizer, according to the Associated Press. It also contains small amounts of naturally occurring radium and uranium, and the stacks can release large concentrations of radon gas as well.
On Monday, a discovered a possible second breach. Fears of a complete breach at an old phosphate plant led authorities to evacuate more than 300 homes, close portions of a major highway and move several hundred jail inmates nearby to a second floor of the facility.
To stave off a catastrophic flood, more pumps were headed to the site to slowly drain the water and divert it to Tampa Bay, which could lead to negative environmental consequences such as fish kills and algae blooms.
Source-ABC
Google wins big in Supreme Court clash with Oracle
In the multi-billion Supreme Court clash between two titans of tech, Google emerged as the victor on Monday.
In a 6-2 opinion by Justice Stephen Breyer, the court said that Google's use of 11,000 lines of code -- copied without permission from Oracle's Java program -- to create the Android smartphone operating system -- constitutes fair use as a matter of law and does not require compensation.
"We assume, for argument’s sake, that the material was copyrightable. But we hold that the copying here at issue nonetheless constituted a fair use. Hence, Google’s copying did not violate the copyright law," Breyer wrote.
The decision reversed a lower court ruling in favor of Oracle, which had sought $9 billion in damages from Google for copyright infringement.
The stakes in the case -- dubbed the "copyright case of the century" -- are significant for both companies, the software industry and everyday American investors. Millions of Americans' 401k retirement savings plans include investments in Google.
Experts have said a decision in favor of Google, allowing the copying of code as "fair use," could facilitate more rapid development of new consumer products and technological innovation -- essentially allowing companies to build on each other.
But there could be a downside: Some start-up companies fear the decision could harm their ability to turn a profit if giants like Google can swoop in and copy without compensation.
Source-ABC
Hundreds of fans gather for prayer vigil honoring DMX
Hundreds of supporters of multiplatinum rapper DMX gathered outside the hospital, where his lawyer says he remains in grave condition, to hold a prayer vigil Monday night.
The vigil was spearheaded by the Ruff Ryders to the Rescue Foundation following a much smaller gathering the previous night in order to pay respects.
TMZ reports that, among those gathered outside the hospital, were his fiancee Desiree and their four-year-old child, Exodus.
The rapper's ex-wife, Tashera Simmons, also attended the vigil and praised fans for their dedication.
In addition, Yadira Borrego, of whom he has children with, was also spotted in the crowd.
In addition to saying prayers in hopes of a full recovery, fans also played DMX's music to honor his decorated rap career.
The "X Gon' Give It to Ya" rapper -- born Earl Simmons -- suffered a heart attack over the weekend and was transported to the White Plains Hospital in New York.
DMX's family released a statement late Sunday, calling fans to send their prayers and well wishes.
"On Friday night, April 2nd, 2021, our brother, son, father, and colleague DMX, birth name of Earl Simmons, was admitted to White Plains (NY) Hospital, facing serious health issues," the family said. "We ask that you please keep Earl/DMX and us in your thoughts, wishes, and prayers as well as respect our privacy as we face these challenges."
It is unknown at this time if DMX's condition has improved.
Source-ABC
North Korea to skip Tokyo Olympics Games over Covid-19 fears
North Korea has announced it will not take part in the Tokyo Olympics this year, saying the decision is to protect its athletes from Covid-19.
The decision puts an end to South Korea's hopes of using the Games to engage with the North amid stalled cross-border talks.
In 2018, both sides entered a joint team at the Winter Olympics which led to a series of historic summits.
Pyongyang says it has no cases of the virus but experts say this is unlikely.
The country's health system is thought to be completely inadequate for dealing with the Covid pandemic, the BBC's Tokyo Correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports.
The announcement makes North Korea the first major country to skip the delayed 2020 Games because of the pandemic. The event is due to begin on 23 July.
This will be the first time North Korea has missed a Summer Olympics since 1988, when it boycotted the Seoul Games during the Cold War.
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it had not "received an official application" from North Korea to step back from the Games.
It added that despite repeated requests, the country's National Olympic Committee had failed to "hold a telephone conference during which the Covid-19 situation in North Korea should also have been discussed."
North Korea has taken stringent measures against the virus since it broke out last year.
Source-BBC
Caricom begins search for new secretary general
The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has begun the important search for a new secretary general (SG) to replace Mr Irwin LaRocque, whose second term ends in August, which could give the regional bloc its first woman SG.
Two women have emerged as the leading candidates, both of whom hold PhDs and have worked in the 48-year-old Caricom Secretariat for many years.
Belizean Senator Dr Carla Barnett, junior minister for labour, local government and rural development, is a former Caricom deputy secretary general, while Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan of Suriname currently occupies that post.
We support the election of a woman to the post of SG, but not simply because they are women. The best candidate must be selected regardless of gender, and we are happy to note that these two prospective candidates meet the requisite academic and professional qualifications and experience.
There is, of course, the possibility that other candidates could emerge by the time the search for a new SG ends. What is important, however, is that the person appointed will face the daunting task of leading a post-pandemic Caricom.
The necessity for a vibrant Caricom has oft been debated. In our view, the potential of the regional bloc as a force for good is itself impatient of debate. And that is not to suggest that there are not real-world issues about which we will often have to agree to disagree.
A new SG must be robust in addressing the enormous implementation deficit of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), as well as the need for coordination in external policy.
One sometimes senses an inability to agree on common foreign policy objectives, such as in relations with the United States, China and Taiwan. We certainly would have preferred to see greater coordination in sourcing the vaccine to treat the novel coronavirus pandemic, instead of the seemingly heavy reliance on the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility.
It is always going to be clear that only a nimble Caricom Secretariat can deliver the benefits of economic integration and combined support for a common Caricom in international affairs.
The new SG will need to lead a refreshed Caricom Secretariat, even if the halcyon days of outstanding men like Messrs William Demas, Alister McIntyre, Sonny Ramphal, and Roderick Rainford cannot be recreated.
To attract the right person, heads of member governments must increase the remuneration package to make it comparable to that of the chief executive office of a major company operating in the Caribbean.
The days of expecting people of talent to serve only out of a commitment to regional integration are also gone. A realistic package would include a decent salary, along with housing, business travel, as well as a car and driver. Adequate provision must be made for the perpetual regional and global travel.
The short time time between now and the departure of Mr LaRocque suggests that the process will be rushed, as we expect that the heads will make the decision on a new SG at a special meeting in May.
A search committee should be quickly established, and we suggest that the eminent statesman and former Prime Minister of Jamaica Mr P J Patterson is an excellent choice as chair. The committee should headhunt suitable candidates and not wait on applications.
Source-CMC
TCI Immigration Minister tours the new Ritz Carlton hotel
Hon. Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration, Citizenship, Labour and Employment Services visited the Ritz Carlton construction site. Accompanying the minister was Edwin Taylor (Commissioner of Labour), Emilio Seymour (Customer Service Manager), and Alpheus Smith (Assistant Commissioner of Labour).
The Ritz was represented by Roberto Stipa Tenreio (Director Desarrollos Hotelco JWM limited), John Hazard (General Manager), Danitra Clare (Director of HR Operations) and Andryell Misick (Senior Project Manager).
The meeting was held to update the ministry on the progress of the development and the ongoing recruitment efforts. The team gave the ministry a walk through where they highlighted several initiatives needed in order to remain on schedule to open in June 2021.
The Minister stressed that the government expects every effort is made to not just employ Turks & Caicos Islanders, but ensure that Turks and Caicos Islanders are developed to make up the majority of senior management.
The Ritz-Carlton general manager assured the minister that it is the company’s goal is to make a big impact in the community and provide Turks & Caicos Islanders the opportunity to benefit from the new development. This he said will be done by providing direct employment through all areas of the resort.
Additionally, there will be opportunity for sub-contracted employment, mainly in the areas of laundry, housekeeping, maintenance and transport. The company promised to hold training for all potential vendors and subcontractors, to ensure they understand the high end luxury experience expected by their guests.
To ensure the maximum exposure for all available positions both parties realized the need to partner on the recruitment efforts. The ministry decided to assist in hosting a job fair on the 13th April 2021, with a venue to be announced later. In commenting on the fair, Honourable Musgrove stressed the importance of persons registering with the Labour and Employment Service Department, in an effort to capitalize on the upcoming employment opportunities.
All interested persons should drop their resumes to the employment services department along with a copy of their Turks & Caicos Islands status card. If you are currently registered with the department, please send us an email to express your interest via email address jobregistration@gov.tc .
Ministerial Statement from Hon. Rachel Taylor
Mr. Speaker, Members of this Honourable house, visitors in the gallery, my fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, the Good Book says, in everything we must give thanks, and today, I rise to give the almighty thanks for permitting us to see another day, and all the blessings he has bestowed upon me. I also want to give thanks because the almighty has blessed me with health and strength to carry out my responsibilities in this Honourable House.
I must acknowledge that I am forever grateful to my Constituency Council led by Mr. Calvin Greene, my campaign team who toiled with me for four long years, the constituents of Electoral District 9, Five Cays, South Dock and Chalk Sound who resoundingly elected me on February 19thto represent their interests and those of all the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. To all those who supported me in different capacities, I say thank you. I will represent with integrity, dignity and accountability.
I wish to also thank my family for their continued support and guidance to take on the challenges of today and tomorrow. To Arnelle Alexis Taylor, I express my deepest gratitude to you, for you supported me not only as a daughter, but also played the role of my Campaign Manager.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to provide an update on the progress of my Ministry. Over the past year, the pandemic has struck a devastating blow to the Education Sector, not only in these Beautiful by Nature Islands, but across the Globe. This month of March 2021, marks one year since our schools have been closed in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and our children have been forced to remote learning from home.
Mr. Speaker,
- We have heard the cries of our children, they want to return to the classroom with their friends.
- We have heard the cries of our Teachers, who have expressed that they are not reaching our children in a meaningful way via online learning.
- We have heard the cries of our parents, who are seeking the best learning opportunities for their children.
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to update this Honourable House on matters related to the Education Sector and to address those cries from our children, the teachers and parents.
Since assuming office, I have held a series of meetings with officials in the Department of Education, Private and Public School Principals and key stakeholders to chart a course to safely return our students to a safe environment where we can once again ensure effective learning.
Arising out of those meetings and in consultations with the Ministry of Health, we have aimed to safely transition our students back to face to face learning blended with online classes through a phased approach captured in our revised Roadmap.
Mr. Speaker, with effect 22nd March 2021 to April 31st 2021 we will implement the first phase of the Roadmap for the reopening of School. This will include the following:
- All Schools throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands with a population of 200 students or less, will be permitted to return to Face to Face Learning.
- Schools with a student population above 200 students, we will permit only 4th and 5th formers and Grade 6 students to return to face to face learning at this time, while the lower classes continue using online learning.
- Due to the fact that students attending Tertiary Schools usually attend classes at scheduled time, all students at these institutions would be allowed to return to Face to Face Classes.
Mr. Speaker, at the initial stage, face to face classes are given to students that are in the senior grades who are preparing to sit examinations, because the Ministry wants to ensure that these students are given as much support as possible to prepare for external examinations, entry into the labour market and for pathways to lifelong learning.
We will also use this opportunity before the Easter break to get students readjusted to their classes. Also, teachers, school administrators and the Department of Education will have the opportunity to identify any potential issues and work diligently to resolve these kinks over the Easter Break.
Mr. Speaker, during Phase 1 after the return of the Easter break, we will return all students to school, yes, I repeat,ALL SCHOOLS,ALL STUDENTSwill return to face to face learning.
We are cognizant of the health protocols, and the requirement for Social Distancing and we have taken this into serious consideration. All Schools will be allowed to function with up to 200 students with a blended approach of face to face and online learning. The School Administrators would be permitted to use and adopt any strategy which suits them,but I re-emphasize at any onetime, only 200 students would be permitted in face-to face classes, while the remainder of students would continue to join classes remotely and alternate from time to time.
Mr. Speaker, we are here to do the peoples work and we aim to deliver.
As part of our strategy to make the full use of this Daylight Savings Time and also maximize this opportunity to enable our students to catch up, school hours are also modified. At present, students attending online classes in the Public Schools attend from 9a.m. to 1p.m. This will continue in instances where online learning remains the dominant form of lesson delivery, particularly in Phase 1.
However, in instances where students will be attending face to face classes, the following school operating hours would be as follows:
- In primary schools: 8:30 am to 2:30 pm
- In secondary schools: 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.
Mr. Speaker, these are exceptional times that have required all of us to take swift action and make drastic changes to our professional and personal lives to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Mr. Speaker, Phase 2 of the reopening of Schools will take place during the period May 3rd2021 to July 2nd2021 which leads us to the end of the school year. The Ministry will ensure that there is continuous liaison with the Ministry of Health with relevant updates from CDC and inspections by health officials, the necessary recommendations will be shared with the schools to ensure that they are all complying with the protocols.
Our first priority remains the health and well-being of our dynamic community of students throughout the islands, faculties, and other stakeholders. As part of this mandate to return our students to the classroom, we will implement the Guidelines Developed by the Education Department for the safe return of students to the classrooms. Some of these guidelines call for the following:
1) Daily screening and maintaining of a register of all students as they enter the school compound.
2) All students must wear a mask, face shield at all times.
3) In the Public Schools, we will implement a bubble system, whereby students would remain within their classroom with their cohorts. We will implement a system of restricted movement of students throughout the campus. Parents are encouraged to send their children with lunch to school.
There will be an option for students to purchase from the canteen and school administrators are asked to put a system in place to facilitate the students lunch being taken to the classroom.
Physical activities and Physical Education would be encouraged under a controlled and closely supervised environment. Teachers are encouraged to promote in-class physical activities such as stretching and pause periods.
We congratulate all teachers who have taken on the responsibility to vaccinate themselves and encourage all other teachers to get vaccinated as soon as possible in the best interest of themselves and their students. Mr. Speaker, in joint efforts with the Deputy Governor and the Ministry of Education, we will be arranging weekly vaccination times dedicated for our teachers and all those who work alongside our children on the school compound in both government and private schools should they wish to be vaccinated.
In reviewing some of the health protocols which are emerging in Europe and the United Kingdom, many schools and universities are working closely with public health experts to establish a COVID-19 rapid testing facility within their schools for students that is available on a voluntary basis. In the very near future, the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, would encourage a similar protocol to be implemented. This will be addressed in the new budget.
Mr. Speaker, my ministry will be installing plexiglass sneeze guards on the desks of each student and teacher in public schools for the new academic year as an extra protective measure for our teachers and students. The health and well-being of our people will always be paramount.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education alongside the Ministry of Health will initiate the sensitization campaign to inform parents of the health measures which are in place to keep their students safe such as the School Health COVID-19 Protocols and Contingency Plans which were previously developed and are currently in place. Our Ministry of Health has completed assessments of schools and will continue to ensure that our schools are adhering to the protocols established by the Ministry of Health.
In keeping with the Ministry of Health Protocols, we will provide additional PPEs, additional cleaning supplies and the necessary number of cleaners per school to ensure that the environment of our students are conducive to their health and well-being.
My Government will seek to implement temporary contracts with bus service providers for students of Long Bay High and students on Middle and North Caicos adhering to the Ministry of Health Protocols for the safety of our students. We will not hold back our students, but instead work in unison to ensure that our students education are treated as a priority, and in so doing follow rigidly the protocols established. Parents and the wider community, we need your support, again I am pleading with you to get vaccinated this will indeed mitigate the bread of Covid 19. Together we can, and together we will!
Mr. Speaker, I cannot end without speaking on the upcoming external examinations. We recognize and appreciate the significant stress that our students are feeling as they prepare to sit in some cases, life changing external examinations.
Mr. Speaker, we have heard the cries of our School Principals, the cries of our teachers, and the cries of our students when they say, our children are not ready for these examinations. Our children have not had the benefit of consistent face-to-face for over a year. Our students have not covered the subject requirements,and to sit some of these external examinations would not be fair to our children when other countries have had the benefit of returning their students to classroom much earlier than we have.
Mr. Speaker, Cambridge recently announced that it is their intention to proceed with the examination this year,EXCEPTfor a very small number of countries and regions within countries where directives from national and local authorities mean exams cannot go ahead, Cambridge will switch from exams to a teacher assessment approach using students' work, their SBAs.
Consequently Mr. Speaker, with effect immediately, my Government has taken the decision to formally write to Cambridge and advise them of the Government's decision to defer IGCSE examinations this year and switch from exams to a teacher assessment approach using their SBAs.
Mr. Speaker, The Caribbean Examination Council examinations will be sit by our students in June/July of this year and results will be made available to Ministers of Education the last week of September 2021. CXC intends to share with each country the broad topics to be assessed on Paper 2, five weeks in advance of the start of the examination. As a contingency measure, if students are unsuccessful in their exams, the Ministry will encourage these students to re-sit the examinations in 2022.
Mr. Speaker, we must give our students the best opportunity to succeed and in these stressful times, this is the right thing to do.
Similarly, Mr. Speaker, my Government has taken the decision to defer the Grade 6 Caribbean Primary Examination Assessment (CPEA) this year for All Schools except two. Instead, the Department of Education will focus on administering an internal assessment focusing on Literacy and Numeracy. We encourage school leaders, teachers and parents to continue to work with students using the CPEA guidelines and finish the curriculum.
This is no time for us to rest on ourlaurels, our children are behind and we must give them a fighting chance to succeed. The deferral of the CPEA examinations means, that schools are no longer burden to complete the school-based assessments within the allocated timelines, but we want to encourage schools to continue along the path, complete the curriculum, because it will build the students competencies and skills.To do otherwise will be unfair to the children.
Mr. Speaker, I had mentioned that two schools which are far advance in preparing our students to sit the CPEA exams. I wish to use this opportunity to congratulate these schools, the teachers and administrators, and most importantly the parents for their hard work. While the completion of the exams by these schools will not be used for the placement of students, the lessons learnt will be invaluable to other schools in the TCI and these schools will serve as a pilot and Champion schools to better assist other schools as we work to implement the CPEA next year.
Mr. Speaker, my ministry intends to provide additional after school programmes for struggling students in public schools to provide greater one on one support that will aid in improving their literacy and numeracy skills. The Ministry will continue to review its budget ceiling and identify savings which can be re-allocated towards this initiative in the next budget cycle or the new academic year. No child will be left time.
Mr. Speaker, the Education Department is aware of the struggles of our children and parents as it relates to having access to an electronic device. We are ever grateful to the many donors who have assisted with the many purchases. We are currently awaiting 300 laptops from the Pine Cay Project and an additional $17,000 worth of devices sponsored by the Shore Club. Our partnership with the private sector will improve as we work together for the betterment of our children. In the new financial budget, we will address procuring additional electronic devices for our children so that no child will be left behind.
Mr. Speaker, our classrooms will see the installation of HD cameras over the Easter break in an effort to aid in the delivery of their online learning. Additionally, we will provide additional hot spots on site at the public schools that will boost the internet service.
Mr. Speaker, as I conclude, I wish to reassure all parents, teachers, and students that in making these decisions, their health and safety was our primary consideration. All schools are currently operating under COVID-19 safety protocols which are aligned to the Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education and Health.
The Ministry of Education will continue to monitor the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic and make informed decisions in conjunction with the Ministry of Health. We will continue to keep all our parents informed about the progress being made. The road ahead may have bumps, but I am confident we will continue to make significant advances in our shared goals of returning to some sense of normalcy.
My Ministry is fully committed to providing the resources and helping the education system to transition to one that can effectively navigate the new normal. This requires us to pivot the odds in our favour and to capitalize on the seeds of opportunity through consultations and strategic collaboration.
Mr. Speaker, we cannot fail our students. As we make this shift from online learning back to face to face and blended instruction, we must work to ensure that students are receiving thesame high-quality instructionthey would have under normal circumstances.
Mr. Speaker, I end by reminding us all that this month is known as Social Work Month. It isa time to celebrate the great profession of social work. As practitioners, social workers are trained to help people address personal and systemic barriers to optimal living.
They are employed to effect positive change with individuals, families, groups and entire communities. I would like to commend my staff, the social workers, for their continuous support and dedication in this field. They have worked tirelessly during this pandemic; dedicating their time and resources to assist the community throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.
I have not forgotten the vulnerable among us. I have heard their cries as well. Their cry for social assistance and support. That is why Mr. Speaker, with effective immediately, my ministry has redirected savings identified from the Social Stimulus Program in the sum of $56,0000. $16,000 will be awarded to Social Services to purchase $200.00 food vouchers, that will be made available to the most vulnerable in our communities.
Mr. Speaker, $40,000 will be given to Red Cross who will work with other NGOs in the TCI such as, Salvation Army, Soroptomist, Food for Thought and other groups of the cohort who are best placed to channel these resources to persons that are in need. I take this opportunity to thank them for the work they have done and continue to do.
Mr. Speaker, I promised the vulnerable people of Five Cays, that we will get them the help they need. I promised the vulnerable people throughout the TCI that we will remove the bureaucratic red tapes and we will deliver on that promise. For the purpose of accountability, the Ministry will be provided with the necessary documentation from the NGOs and Social Services outlining their expenditure.
Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve my country, especially as the Minister with responsibility for Education, Youth, Culture, Library and Social Services; I will work hard seeing that no one, no child, will be left behind. This is my promise to you.
May God continue to bless our country, the Turks and Caicos Islands.