Renewals of British Overseas Territories Citizens (BOTC) Turks and Caicos Islands Passport Books
The Department of Registration and Citizenship within the Ministry of Border Control and Employment Services hereby advises the public of the importance of checking the validity of their passport books on a regular basis, whether they have immediate plans to travel, or not. On average, international travel requires a validity period of six (6) months or more. Applications for the renewal of passports with less than six (6) months remaining should be made as soon as possible and ahead of the upcoming high travel season during the summer months.
The public is also reminded that BOTC Turks and Caicos Islands passports cannot be extended and must be renewed in order to facilitate travel. Further, limited validity passports, otherwise known as emergency passports, are issued only in cases of extreme emergency and unforeseen and/or unavoidable official travel by public officers. Applications for limited validity passports must be accompanied by documentation substantiating the emergency or unforeseen and/or unavoidable need for official travel, in addition to all other supporting documents required when otherwise applying for a full validity passport and the applicable fees.
All applications for renewal or first time passport books can be made to the Customer Services Center located at Level 1, Sammy Been Plaza, Airport Road Providenciales or at Three Degrees Business Complex in Grand Turk.
Weekend Forecast
GENERAL SITUATION: A SURFACE TROUGH EXTENDS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS…WHILE REMNANTS OF A FORMER FRONT AFFECTS NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BEACHGOERS AND MARINERS SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION DUE TO THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ESPECIALLY ALONG EASTERN SHORELINES.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER: VARIABLY CLOUDY, WARM AND BREEZY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS MAINLY IN THE NORTHWEST & SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS…PARTLY CLOUDY TONIGHT WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IS IN EFFECT.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS…DECREASING 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS TONIGHT.
SEAS:4 TO 7 FEET OVER THE OCEAN…FALLING 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS TONIGHT.
HIGH TEMPERATURE TODAY 85 °F 29 °C
LOW TEMPERATURE TONIGHT 70 °F 21 °C
SUNRISE: 6:58AM SUNSET: 7:26PM
MOONRISE: 7:21AM MOONSET: 7:54PM
HIGH TIDE: 7:44AM & 8:04PM
LOW TIDE: 1:56PM & 2:22AM SAT.
EXTENDED FORECAST: THE SURFACE TROUGH ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS WILL DRIFT WESTWARD THROUGH SATURDAY WHILE DISSIPATING…MEANWHILE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD ACROSS THE AREA THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, MAINTAINING BRISK BREEZES OVER THE SOUTHERN ISLANDS.
FORECAST FOR SATURDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND WARM WITH A FEW STRAY SHOWERS…BREEZY IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST & CENTRAL BAHAMAS…& EASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN IN THE NORTHWEST & CENTRAL BAHAMAS…& 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
FORECAST FOR SUNDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND WARM WITH A FEW STRAY SHOWERS…BREEZY IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST & CENTRAL BAHAMAS…& EASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN IN THE NORTHWEST & CENTRAL BAHAMAS…& 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
PREMIER ROBINSON ANNOUNCES SHUFFLE OF CABINET
Premier of the Turks & Caicos, the Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson has ended the speculations long ongoing as to the Ministers that will be changing portfolio.
In her address to the nation, the Premier added that three Ministers will be changing Ministry's, here is the Premier's address:
"Despite the challenges my Government faced over the first half of our term in Office, my Government continues to make great strides in delivering the promised change for our people. We have continued to keep our people informed through all social and media platforms and through our Town Hall Meetings.
In a series of appearances over Public Radio, RTC marking the midterm, Ministers of my Cabinet have reported in full on accomplishments and works in progress against our contract with the people, the Change Document. We continue to fulfill our promises.
As committed to do at the half term mark, I have now reviewed and proposed changes to Cabinet. The new portfolio assignments and the reassignments of Departments are sure to assist us in delivering on our promises and list of priority flagship projects.
I am pleased to announce the following:
The Deputy Premier Hon Sean Astwood will head the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing, Planning and Development.
The Hon Vaden Delroy Williams will head the Ministry of Immigration, Citizenship, Labour and Employment Services.
The Hon Goldray Ewing will head the Ministry of Home Affairs, Public Utilities and Transportation. The Departments of Water and Energy will join this Ministry.
The Hon Ralph Higgs will remain the Minister of Tourism. However, the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies will join this Ministry and will work closer with the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources as we further our agenda in relation to climate change and the further protection and conservation of our environment.
The Hon Karen Malcolm will remain the Minister of Education under the Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture, Social and Library Services. However Social Services and Gender will join this Ministry as we focus greater efforts on the family unit with renewed focus on children, youth and women programs.
The Hon Edwin Astwood will remain the Minister of Health.
I will continue to hold the Ministry of Finance and the Premier's Office will be renamed Office of the Premier, Local Government and Community Affairs.
These changes will take effect from May 8th following the Budget Debate. During the Budget Debate, all Ministers will announce their Ministry's major flagship priorities for the new financial year.
We are excited in our work and remain committed to the change that is and will continue to take place. We continue to be honored to serve the people of these Islands.
May God continue to bless these Turks and Caicos Islands."
That was the full statement from the Hon Sharlene L Cartwright Robinson, Premier & Minister of Finance of The Turks and Caicos Islands speaking about a cabinet shuffle that will take effect in May.
TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES ITS HOME OWNERS POLICY
The1st of April 2019 marked the effective date for the coming into force of the Home Owner’s Policy, recently approved by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.
The Turks and Caicos Government (TCIG) is keen on promoting homeownership and providing incentives to help those struggling to get on the property ladder or to protect the savings and equity that existing homeowners have painstakingly placed in their homes.
To progress this initiative, Turks and Caicos Islands Government has initiated its Homeowner’s Policy that will provide a duty waiver program, applicable to all Turks and Caicos Islands citizens who are homeowners or in the process of becoming a first time homeowner.
The Hon Premier Cartwright Robinson commented stating; “This Program will give Turks and Caicos Islanders a better opportunity to maintain or increase the equity in their homes as existing home owners of 10 years or more, or to enter the housing market for the first time with some incentives. These incentives will include either a reduction of $20,000 in stamp duty or an import duty waiver of up to $20,000 on building materials/appliances/furniture and fixtures. I am excited the interest already expressed and I know that many will benefit under this Program. Homeownership is an empowerment tool and we are happy to deliver on this important imitative”
To ensure that the Public has all the necessary information required to benefit under this policy, a copy of the approved policy is attached to this release for ease of reference. A copy of the policy can also be downloaded from the Turks and Caicos Islands Government website at www.gov.tc, and the Customs Department website at www.customs.gov.tc.
Hard copies of the policy will also be available at the following locations:
- The Premier’s Officer, Providenciales and Grand Turk;
- The Office of the District Commissioner, Salt Cay, South Caicos, Middle Caicos and North Caicos;
- The Customs Department, Providenciales and Grand Turk;
- The Land Registry, Grand Turk;
- The Department of Planning, Grand Turk and Providenciales
Persons can submit their queries regarding homeowner’s policy the following email address: tcihomeapp@gov.tc.
All homeowner’s policy applications can be submitted to the Ministry of Finance in Grand Turk and Providenciales or through your local District Commissioner’s Office in North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos and Salt Cay.
Avicii's first posthumous track to drop next week
A new track from the late Avicii, called SOS, will be released on Wednesday 10 April, his family says.
The Swedish DJ - whose real name was Tim Bergling - was found dead in Oman in April last year, aged 28.
Now a 16-track album of new material entitled Tim, which "he was close to completing", will follow on 6 June.
Proceeds from the LP will go to Tim Bergling Foundation, set up after his death to help prevent mental illness and suicide.
"When Tim Bergling passed away on April 20, 2018," a family statement read, "he was close to completing a new album.
"He left behind a collection of nearly finished songs, along with notes, email conversations and text messages about the music.
"The songwriters that Tim was collaborating with on this album have continued the process to get as close to his vision as possible."
Adding: "Since Tim's passing, the family decided not to keep the music locked away - instead they wanted to share it with his fans all around the world."
The statement arrived with a moving video, featuring Avicii in the studio and tributes from his family, and you can watch it above.
Source-BBC
Donald Trump urges US Fed to cut interest rates
Donald Trump has stepped up his attacks on the US Federal Reserve by calling for the central bank to cut interest rates.
The US President claimed that the Fed has "really slowed us down" in terms of economic growth, adding that "there's no inflation".
Mr Trump made the comments as data showed a sharp rebound in new jobs growth during March.
US firms added 196,000 jobs last month, compared to 33,000 in February.
Mr Trump said: "I think they should drop rates and get rid of quantitative tightening. You would see a rocket ship."
The Fed has raised interest rates four times since Jerome Powell took over as chairman in February last year.
Mr Powell was appointed by Mr Trump but the president has frequently criticised the Fed chairman for increasing rates.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that Mr Trump told Mr Powell in a recent phone call: "I guess I'm stuck with you."
The Fed had been forecast to raise interest rates a further two times this year. However, it has since said it is now taking a "patient approach" to interest rates.
Last month, it indicated that it did not expect to raise interest rates for the rest of 2019 amid slower economic growth.
Mr Trump said earlier this week that he would nominate the former boss of Godfather's Pizza to the Fed's board of governors.
Herman Cain, 73, ran to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2012 and is a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
Along with Mr Cain, Mr Trump also intends to nominate Stephen Moore, who advised the president during his election campaign, to join the Fed's board of governors.
Source-BBC
Boeing apology too late, says pilot's father
Boeing's apology for the Ethiopian Airlines crash last month is "too little, too late", the pilot's father has told the BBC.
Dr Getachew Tessema was speaking a day after the US manufacturer admitted for the first time that the plane's anti-stall system was a factor in the crash.
Boeing's chief executive officer also said the company was "sorry for the lives lost".
The Boeing 737 Max crashed just after take-off killing all 157 on board.
A preliminary report from the Ethiopian authorities issued on Thursday said the pilots of flight ET302 "repeatedly" followed procedures recommended by Boeing before the crash south of the capital, Addis Ababa.
The pilots were responding to the plane nose-diving as the anti-stall system malfunctioned.
Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges said that despite their efforts, the pilots "were not able to control the aircraft".
The accident came only five months after another 737 Max crashed. Lion Air flight JT 610 plunged into the sea off Indonesia killing all 189 people on board - again after the pilots encountered problems with the anti-stall system.
Dr Tessema is grieving for Yared Getachew, the 29-year-old pilot who had more than 8,000 hours of flying experience when he was killed.
Yared had been planning to marry another pilot this year.
His father collapsed and was hospitalised when told of the accident as he struggled to grapple with what had happened.
"I am very proud about my son and the other pilot, both of them," he told the BBC's Emmanuel Igunza.
"To the last minute they struggled as much as they could but unfortunately they were not able to stop it.
"I don't regret that he was a pilot. He died in the course of his duty."
Dr Tessema levels the blame for the accident squarely at Boeing, questioning why the company did not stop the 737 Max flying after the Indonesia crash.
"Why did they let them fly? Because they were in competition. They want to sell more. Human life has no meaning in some societies."
Dr Tessema says he has not ruled out taking legal action, but will wait and speak to relatives and friends before making a decision.
CEO Dennis Muilenburg issued a video statement on Thursday.
On the human cost, he said: "We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 accidents and are relentlessly focused on safety to ensure tragedies like this never happen again."
It was, he said, "apparent" that in both the Ethiopia and Indonesia flights, the software for the anti-stall system - or MCAS - was "activated in response to erroneous angle of attack information".
He added: "As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment. It's our responsibility to eliminate this risk. We own it and we know how to do it."
Boeing is planning to release a software update for the MCAS, along with more pilot training for the 737 Max. At the same time, pilots will always be able to override MCAS and control the aircraft manually, Boeing says.
Source-BBC
TCI CARIFTA Track and Field Team 2019
Following a successful 2019 Inter high at the the National Stadium, a number of athletes are preparing for the Carifta games which will be held in the Cayman islands. The Carifta trials were held earlier this year as the National coach prepares our new stars.
The 48th staging of the regional championships will be held at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in the Cayman Islands during the Easter period from April 20-22nd, 2019.
President of the Turks and Caicos Athletics Administrative Association (TCAAA) Ms.Edith Skipping's gave RTC Sports a glimpse into the list of the 2019 athletes.
2019 CARIFTA TEAM TCI 33 STRONG
- Alexia Prince U-17 Girls CHHS
- Dred Mondestin U-17 Girls CHHS
- Daisy McIntosh U-17 Girls LBHS
- Aniyah Forbes U-17 Girls LBHS
- Archelande Joseph U-17 Girls RGHS
- Tenisha Gardiner U-17 Girls LBHS
- Katrina Outten U-17 Girls MBHS
- Alexis Anara U-17 Girls BWIC
- Deajah Smith U-20 Girls Jago
- Bryana Brown U-20 Girls BWIC
- Alecia Castan U-20 Girls CHHS
- Zoe Butler U-20 Girls CHHS
- Rebecca Barnadin U-20 Girls Jago
- Daveon Durham U-17 Boys CHHS
- Dashawn Gray U-17 Boys Calabar
- Wooslyn Harvey U-17 Boys CHHS
- Anthony Louis U-17 Boys LBHS
- Mike Legerme U-17 Boys LBHS
- Carson Gar land U-17 Boys LBHS
- Zachary Stern U-17 Boys HJRH
- Tayjo Oppong-Adjei U-17 Boys CHHS
- Darvon Rigby U-17 Boys WMHS
- Chadwin Gray U-17 Boys Calabar
- Emmanuel Agenor U-20 Boys Jago
- Darren Pierret U-20 Boys CHHS
- Colby Jennings U-20 Boys GC Foster
- Junior Paul U-20 Boys CHHS
- Joshua St.Michael-Meghoo U-20 Boys BWIC
- Claude Baptisme U-20 Boys HJRH
- Martijn Healy U-20 Boys Norbertus
- Bilton Gomez U-20 Boys MBHS
- Kinsonne Noel U-20 Boys UNATT
- Katrell Pierre U-20 Boys MBHS
- Randy Ford Head Coach
- Alvirto Smith Assistant Coach
- Rosalie Ingham Team Manager
RTC Sports understands that Thelma VanAlstine will be the Chaperone attending with the team and Ms.Edith Skippings as President will be at this years game.
Sharon Simons of RTC's Sports Watch will be traveling with the team to bring updates on our teams performance.
1.1 million children affected by Venezuela crisis according to UNICEF
The number of children who are affected by the Venezuelan crisis and who will need humanitarian aid this year is expected to more than double to reach 1.1 million, up from nearly 500,000, the UN children's agency said yesterday.
The figure includes children uprooted from Venezuela, those who have returned and others in host and transit communities across Latin America and the Caribbean, said a UNICEF statement.
The latest estimate highlighted expectations among aid agencies that the political crisis in Venezuela will worsen in the coming months, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation of children and families.
UNICEF called on governments in the region to uphold the rights of children and ensure they have access to essential services.
An internal UN report seen by AFP last week said seven million people -- about 24 percent of Venezuela's population -- are in need of humanitarian aid, lacking access to food and medical care.
President Nicolas Maduro has blamed US sanctions for Venezuela's economic problems but opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president, says government corruption and mismanagement are at fault.
Guaido is recognised by the United States and around 50 other governments.
The UN Security Council is expected to meet next week at the request of the United States to discuss Venezuela's humanitarian crisis.
Source-AFP
TCI CELEBRATES THE QUEEN’S OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY
The Turks & Caicos Islands will honour and celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday on Saturday, April 27th, at 5pm.
The annual celebrations will be held at the parade ground in the nation’s capital, Grand Turk, and will feature the time-honoured uniformed parade; the celebrations will also be carried live via Radio Turks & Caicos.
HE the Governor, Dr John Freeman, expressed that: “Her majesty the Queen is a model of service and has been throughout her reign. It is entirely right that once again we in the Turks and Caicos Islands will come together to express thanks to Her Majesty the Queen and to thank God for her continuing reign as our Sovereign. I hope as many people as possible will be able to join in this celebratory event.”
The parade will feature participants from an array uniformed groups, including the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF), HM Prison Service, Customs and Immigration officials, the Ex-Servicemen Legion, the Cadet Corps, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Rainbow’s and students from the Island’s schools; all led by the RTCIPF band.
Following the parade, HE the Governor will present long service awards to key members of the uniformed services in recognition of their 18, 25 or 30 years of dedication and service to the Crown.
The award ceremony will last approximately 60 minutes and will conclude with a royal salute taken by the Governor. The Governor’s Office will provide the customary refreshments to all participating in the parade.