Salt Cay gets Little Free Library
Ministry of Education National High School Spelling Bee 2019
The Ministry of Education cordially invites the general public to the National High School Spelling Bee on Tuesday, 4th June commencing at 10:00am at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex, Providenciales.
The National High School Spelling Bee is an annual feature on the academic calendar which attracts participants from the public and private high schools throughout the country. The objectives of the Bee are to:
encourage students to explore and study words particularly its meaning, diacritical markings and origin;
help students to learn and spell words quickly and accurately;
help students to learn and use proper pronunciation and word usage; and
provide an environment to promote students’ self-esteem, character development and sportsmanship.
Participants are awarded trophies and prizes for their placement in the Bee. The competition was last held in 2017 when Zobreann Brown [BWIC] was the winner. This year eleven (11) high schools will be participating. They are as follows:
British West Indies Collegiate
H J Robinson High School
International School of the TCI
Long Bay High School
Marjorie Basden High School
Maranatha Academy
Provo Middle School
Precious Treasures International School
Raymond Gardiner High School
TCIPS Comprehensive High School
The Bee will be broadcast live on Radio Turks & Caicos. Sponsors for this year’s competition are: Platinum Sponsor, Lew 1 Shipping,
Gold & Silver Sponsors:
Island Vibes Tours
Caicos Dream Tours
Hemingway’s Restaurant
Baci Restaurant
IGA Supermarket
TURKS AND CAICOS POST CABINET MEETING
His Excellency the Governor, Dr John Freeman, chaired the 14th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, 29 May 2019, at the Office of the Premier and Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment, Durham’s Building, Lighthouse Road, Grand Turk.
All ministers were present with the exception of the Hon. Goldray M. Ewing.
At this meeting Cabinet:
• Approved DECR management responsibility over Parcel 10503/1 to administer the operations of the beach park in accordance with S. 28(6) of the Crown Land Ordinance, subject to various conditions to develop licences for Cabinet approval.
• Approved an application by Core Resources Ltd for long-term lease over Parcels 60605/73 and 78: and easement over a portion of parcel 60605/179 – Norway and Five cays, Providenciales.
• Approved a renewal policy for the Caribbean Catastrophic Risk Insurance Facility, Segregated Portfolio Company (CCRIF SPC) – 2019/20 Policy Year.
• Approved a Grace Bay Club request for duty concessions for purposes of refurbishment.
• Approved a ban on the importation of EPS (Styrofoam / polystyrene products) and plastic straws from 1 November 2019, and the use of same by retailers from 1 April 2020.
• Approved a proposal for rental of the former Scotia Bank space at Waterloo Plaza office complex, Grand Turk for a period of two years for the purpose of carrying out government Treasury business while major renovations are being carried out in their current premises.
• Approved the announcement by the Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture, Library and Social Services proposal of a Safe School Declaration with associated provisioning funded by UNICEF.
• Noted the waivers granted for the quarter January to March 2019 according to the provisions of Section 21 of the Public Procurement Ordinance and the change in status of the waiver granted for the quarter April to June 2018.
• Noted the Report on the Contract Awards for Non-Recurrent Projects for the Financial Year 2018 – 2019, in line with the process as required by the Public procurement Ordinance.
• Approved the Fixed Asset Policies and Procedures to be enforced early within the FY 19/20.
• Approved the establishment of a Cruise Steering Committee as an advisory body to the Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture.
• Approved the appointments of Floyd Seymour and Alvin Garland to the NIB Board as per CAP 17.09 Schedule 3, 1(b) and (c) respectively.
Any Other Business
• The Premier updated the Cabinet on the Amnesty under the HRTT Ordinance and committed to presenting a full report on same once closed on May 31st, 2019.
• The Premier updated the Cabinet on urgent matters relating to the aviation industry.
Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
Guyana Livestock Development Authority says Trinidad's ban on poultry products 'ill-advised'
A recent ban on poultry from Guyana by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has been described as “ill-advised and premature”.
The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) says it considers the advisory to be ill-advised as neither the sale nor consumption of poultry meat poses any health risks.
The GLDA has sought to assure the general public that the issue with duck disease,” which has been suspected to be but has not been confirmed as, Duck Hepatitis Virus, has been contained and restricted to six duck farms on the coast of Guyana”.
“Measures implemented, including the closure of our hatchery, the only one in Guyana that hatches duck eggs commercially, have assisted in containing the disease. The disease has not manifested itself in the other poultry sectors chicken, turkey and Guinea bird, and has only been observed in ducklings between the ages of 3 to 15 days old”, the statement said.
The GLDA said it continues to perform and uphold its responsibility and mandate to provide wholesome meat and meat products to the consuming public.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture has sought to assure the general public that it is safe to consume all poultry products.
According to the Ministry, while a disease incidence report to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) may elicit a country response, the Ministry is disappointed at the “premature and excessive response of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries of Trinidad and Tobago which has placed a ban on all poultry products, raw and cooked, coming from Guyana”.
Last week, the Ministry of Agriculture in Trinidad and Tobago, imposed a ban on all poultry products from Guyana “until further notice”.
A two paragraph statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries, said that “with immediate effect, all and any raw and cooked poultry meat from Guyana is banned from entry into Trinidad and Tobago until further notice”.
Source- CMC
Big protests planned for President Trump's visit to the U.K.
Mass protests have been planned for President Donald Trump’s upcoming state visit to the U.K. Organizers of the protests from the "Together Against Trump" organization told ABC News that protests are planned at Buckingham Palace on Monday, when the president will be attending a state banquet with the Queen, and on Tuesday, when he will be visiting Prime Minister Theresa May.
President Trump is beginning a five day trip to Europe, stopping first in the United Kingdom for an elaborate three-day state visit that includes a state banquet with Queen Elizabeth. The president's visit comes amid political turmoil over Brexit and who will be the next prime minister.
Mr. Trump will also make a trip to Normandy, visiting the site of the D-Day invasion on the 75th anniversary. He is also set to visit Ireland, where he is expected to meet with the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, and stay at one of his Trump-branded properties.
In recent interviews before the trip, Trump criticized Brexit negotiations and suggested Nigel Farage, leader of the Brexit Party, should renegotiate a deal with the European Union. He also expressed support for former foreign secretary and Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson as the U.K.’s next prime minister.
On Sunday, Trump pushed back against reports that he called Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, “nasty” in a recent interview with the British newspaper, The Sun. Despite audio evidence of his remarks, the president tweeted Sunday "I never called Meghan Markle “nasty.”"
Source-ABC
Virginia Beach gunman was resigning, not fired
Virginia Beach Police Chief James Cervera reiterated during a press conference on Sunday that the mass shooting suspect was not fired from his job as an employee of Virginia Beach. "He was not in the process of being terminated," Cervera said. Virginia Beach City Manager Dave Hansen did confirm that DeWayne Craddock resigned by email on the day of the shooting and was an employee “in good standing” and showed “satisfactory” job performance..
Police are still looking for a motive on why the suspect killed 12 of his coworkers at the municipal center. 12 people were killed in the shooting; four people remain hospitalized.
As friends and family of the 12 victims of the shooting massacre in Virginia Beach honor their loved ones, authorities have revealed a detailed timeline of the deadly rampage. Officers were on the scene of the shooting just two minutes after the first 911 call, Virginia Beach Police Chief James Cervera said on Sunday, and it took 36 minutes from the time that call was placed to engage the shooter, render him aid and transport him to the hospital, where he later died.
As of Sunday night, at least four people remained in critical condition recovering from their injuries.
Source-ABC
Former R. Kelly employee claims singer has archive of tapes
The disturbing accusations against R. Kelly continue to mount, with a former employee now claiming the singer has an archive of child pornography.
TMZ reports the former Kelly confidant testified before an Illinois grand jury on May 30, detailing how the embattled R&B singer would regularly record his sexual encounters with underage girls, collecting them as if they were trophies.
The unnamed employee further reportedly claimed that Kelly's camp and members of his inner circle were well aware of his sexual abuses, and chose to help him seek out underage women rather than report him to authorities. TMZ reports this admission corroborated testimony given by several Kelly victims last week, who stated the singer's inner circle, per the singer's orders, transported them across state lines for sex when they were underage.
The unnamed employee also alleges that Kelly offered him or her a "large sum of cash" in exchange for one of the tapes, which was ultimately confiscated by Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx. According to the former Kelly affiliate, several other explicit tapes were turned over to federal authorities.
Kelly's lawyer, Steve Greenberg, responded to the news in a statement to TMZ, declaring, "This seems to be the same claims that were made in the state case. We will address them in court."
Last week, Kelly was hit with 11 new sex abuse-related charges, which include four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault.
Ciara details breakup with Future, marriage to Russell Wilson
For the latest Red Table Talk, Ciara joined the ladies of the Pinkett-Smith family for an insightful conversation on healing emotional scars.
This week' episode found the Beauty Marks singer detailing her very public breakup with Future, as well as how she found love again with husband Russell Wilson. During the discussion, Ciara recounted what ultimately led to her 2014 split from The Wizrd rapper as well as the moments that helped her define the peace she feels today.
"I remember one time I was working out on the elliptical machine and I was just not sure about 'Do I stay or what direction do I go? What's the right thing to do? It's easy to do this, but is the easy thing the right thing?'" Ciara recalled.
She then explained how this breakthrough led to her taking her son, Future Jr., on several trips across the world to solidify her confidence in walking away from her broken relationship. According to Ciara, it proved that she had to commit to herself instead of others.
"If I chose not to commit I was going to fall apart," the vocalist said. "The one thing I will say is, I'm really afraid of losing myself."
Elsewhere during the chat, Ciara also expressed gratitude to Wilson for accepting her for who she is and loving her the way she always wanted others to.
"Me and my husband look at each other and I'm a better woman because of him, and he says he's a better man because of me," the "Level Up" singer said. "You need those roller-coaster rides. I believe in my journey happening in front of the world for a reason."
Source-ABC
Dwyane Wade surprises Parkland high school graduates
Retired Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade surprised graduates at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Sunday, sending the crowd into an uproar.
Wade became one of the school’s biggest supporters in the wake of the 2018 shooting that left 17 people dead. He also paid a visit to the school when it first reopened after the deadly shooting.
He began his speech on Sunday by reminiscing about that visit.
"My life is bigger than basketball and that’s why I asked to come to Marjory Stoneman Douglas to do whatever was needed of me," Wade said. "I remember pulling up and seeing a few security guards outside. I remember being met by one of the staffers. I remember us walking to the school and I remember hearing absolutely nothing. I remember thinking to myself, 'I've never felt -- I've never heard this kind of silence before in my life.'"
One of the shooting victims, Joaquin Oliver, 17, was a major fan of Wade and was buried in the former NBA superstar's jersey.
Wade said the school’s story inspired him to be a stronger leader, noting how many of the survivors became advocates for gun control.
"Thank you for reminding me of my purpose. I’ll try to continue to be a leader and the fighter that Joaquin Oliver thought I was," he added, causing the crowd to cheer. "What I loved most and appreciated the most was that you all became advocates. You became the faces and the voices for kids all around the world. I’m so proud to say the words MSD strong."
Source-ABC
11 killed in government building shooting, police say
Eleven people were killed and six others injured in a mass shooting at a government building in the US state of Virginia on Friday, police said.
Police said the suspect, a long-term and current Virginia Beach city employee, fired "indiscriminately" in a public utilities building.
The gunman, whose identity has not been released, was killed when police responded to the incident.
A police officer was wounded when a bullet struck his vest.
Reports of gunfire began shortly after 16:00 (20:00 GMT) at Virginia Beach Municipal Center.
The area, which contains a range of city government buildings, was put into lockdown by police and employees were evacuated.
"We just heard people yelling and screaming at people to get down," Megan Banton, an administrative assistant in the building, told local television news station WAVY.
Another employee told the AP news agency she and others heard shooting, but did not think the gunfire was close.
"I just thank god they were able to alert us in time, because if it had been 10 minutes more we would have all been outside," Sheila Cook said.
Police Chief James Cervera said the gunman returned fire on police officers at the scene and was killed in the exchange.
The identities of the 11 people killed were not released by authorities.
At least six people are known to have been wounded, including a police officer, but the severity of their injuries remained unclear.
The injured officer's life was saved when a bullet struck his vest, Chief Cervera told reporters.
A White House spokesman said President Trump had been briefed about the shooting.
Police said they believed the gunman had acted alone.