RTC Director

TURKS AND CAICOS POST CABINET MEETING STATEMENT FOR THE 6TH MARCH 2019

His Excellency the Governor, Dr. John Freeman, chaired the 6^th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, 6 March 2019, at the Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales, in the presence of all ministers. 

A post Cabinet statement from Governor’s Office, noted the approval of a review of the stipend paid by the Government to jurors undertaking jury duty and, in keeping with best practice in the region, to the drafting of a bill to amend the Jury Ordinance to include a provision to obligate employers to continue paying employee salaries during the time they are on jury duty. 

Here’s RTC’s Chris Jarrett with other matters taken up at Cabinet level this week.

Cabinet approved the proposed Companies Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order and directed the Attorney General's Chambers to draft the amendment for execution, with a view to commencing the Order as soon as practicable. 

Cabinet at its meeting on Wednesday, approved the appointment of Yaa McCartney as the new Chair of the Public Procurement Board for a period of two years and expressed thanks to Mr. James Astwood for his six years of service as Chair of the Procurement Board.

Cabinet received and reviewed the Third Quarter Report of the financial performance of the Turks and Caicos Government for the period of October to December 2018. 

It approved the establishment of a new Department of Trade, following the passage of the 2019/2020 budget.

Approval was given by Cabinet for a business license application, submitted by Ocean King, seeking permission to operate in a restricted business (fishing), under the Business Licensing (Amendment) Regulations 2014. 

It approved as well the terms of agreement between the TCIG and T-VED Ltd. to enter into negotiations for a development agreement to operate the airport on North Caicos, subject to further consideration by Cabinet.  

Cabinet agreed to the Revenue Department entering into discussions on the development of a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbnb. 

Subject to the granting of applicable licenses under strict conditions and subject to the results of a new Environmental Impact Assessment, Cabinet conditionally approved a planning application from Sun Rise & Set Ltd. and Emerald Point Ltd. for Outline Development Permission to erect a new rock groyne to replace three existing synthetic groynes in Leeward Marina in order to reduce the erosion of the coastline along Crown Land Parcels 60901/78, 27, 29 and 118. 

Subject to public consultation, Cabinet agreed to the drafting of amendments to the Residential and Commercial Development Building height and set back standards, to include more detailed provision for buildings between 7 and 12 storeys high. 

Cabinet noted at Wednesday’s meeting, an update on an action plan by the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) and a number of proposals to address the use of beach accesses. 

It approved as well, recommendations by the Department of Environmental and Coastal Resources – DECR - in relation to non-contentious issues, covered in the public consultation for amendments to the National Parks Order.

Cabinet approved recommendations by the Department of Environmental and Coastal Resources - the DECR, to carry out a comprehensive environmental impact study in relation to contentious issues covered in the public consultation for amendments to the National Parks Order to remove certain areas from the Chalk Sound National Park. 

At its meeting on Wednesday, Cabinet noted an Information Paper on the medical treatment abroad policy.

Approval was given by Cabinet for the use of a specified, rental space for the Health Regulation Authority. 

Cabinet approved the Attorney General Chamber's recommendation on settlement terms in a Civil Recovery case. 

It also approved terms in respect of a request from the United States of America, seeking agreement for the Turks and Caicos Islands to denounce any interest in land that was the subject of Bona Vacantia in the interest of settling claims from fraud victims.

Cabinet on Wednesday, approved a request from Parrot Cay Hotel Management for concessions on Customs duties in accordance with the Refurbishment Policy. 

Approval was given by Cabinet for a Supplementary Appropriation Bill to retire two Contingency warrants being presented to the House of Assembly, as well as instructions to the Attorney General's Chambers to draft the proposed Companies (Amendment to Schedule 3) Regulations.

Cabinet also received an update from the Deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control on the recent sloop landing.

It received as well as a report from the Deputy Governor and Premier on TCI's participation in the 17th EU Overseas Countries and Territories Forum and ongoing relations with the EU as well as an update from the Deputy Governor on the status of the EDF 11 program and an update from the Attorney General on the TCI Banking Contract.

Further information on these Cabinet matters will be provided by Ministers in due course. For RTC News, I’m

For RTC News, I’m Chris Jarrett.

by RTC Director

PAHO VISIT TO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH

The Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services (MoHASHS) recently concluded a successful visit of officials from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) from Monday 11^th – Wednesday 13^th February 2019. The visiting officials included Dr. Esther De Gourville (PAHO/WHO World Representative (PWR) for the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands) and Dr. Keva Thompson (Ministry of Health (Bahamas) National Professional Officer). This visit accomplished the following objectives:-

To discuss the achievements and performance concerns with implementing the Biennial Work Plan (BWP) for 2018/2019.

• To present the Adjusted Hanlon methodology for prioritization of programme areas to be implemented in the PAHO Biennium Workplan for 2019-2020.
• To further the planning for the STEPS survey in 2019.

The BWP is the PAHO budgetary planning tool that is used to assess the regional priorities for the Americas, what the PAHO response is going to be for each priority (e.g. technical assistance, training, financial assistance, provisions of goods etc.) and the associated budgets for each country served.

The Adjusted Hanlon methodology is a recognized, robust, scientific and innovative approach of the method for public health priority setting. This used national feedback to assess what the individual and then regional countries’ priorities areas were according to 25 PAHO health outcomes.

STEPS: The WHO STEP wise approach to Surveillance (STEPS) is a simple, standardized method for collecting, analysing and disseminating data in WHO (World Health Organization) member countries.  Non communicable diseases or chronic diseases, are not passed from person to person. Non communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of deaths globally. Non-communicable disease examples include heart attacks, strokes, cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension). The STEPS survey is a sequential process. It starts with gathering key information on risk factors with a questionnaire, then moves to simple physical measurements and then to more complex collection of urine and blood samples for biochemical analysis. By gathering this information through the STEPS survey, the data generated will enable the Ministry of Health to better plan remedial interventions to reduce non-communicable diseases and their risk factors in the TCI.

The PWR commended the MoHASHS for the good quality work produced in the 2018-2019 financial year. The MoHASHS looks forward to future collaboration with PAHO/WHO and the deepening of our relationship as we continue to use their technical assistance to build the human resources for health and systems capacity of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

by RTC Director

Trump Heads to Hanoi for Second Summit With Kim

U.S. President Donald Trump is heading to Hanoi for his second summit with Kim Jong Un amid hopes for a deal that would lead to the North Korean leader to give up his nuclear weapons.

"I think we'll have a very tremendous summit. We want denuclearization, and I think he'll have a country that will set a lot of records for speed in terms of an economy," Trump said in remarks at the White House before departing.

National Security Advisor John Bolton, two months ago, said a second summit was needed because North Korea had yet to live up to the commitments it made last June in Singapore.

A lack of a major breakthrough for the second time could have negative political ramifications for Trump.

"If the president makes substantive concessions, I think he will get serious bipartisan criticism," says James Jay Carafano, the vice president of the Heritage Foundation's institute for national security and foreign policy.

That would "probably be the last thing he needs" amid the possible release this week of a summary of the special counsel's report into ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 election campaign, adds Carafano.

"If the report is good news, a distraction is bad," Carafano tells VOA. "If it's bad news, it will compound his problems."

Some analysts, however, predict there would be scant political damage for Trump as he can just declare a foreign policy victory.

"All it takes is Kim pretending to disarm and Trump pretending to believe him," says Vipin Narang, an associate professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"So long as Kim doesn't embarrass Trump publicly by testing a nuclear weapon or a ballistic missile, domestically Trump can keep rinsing and repeating," Narang, author of the book Nuclear Strategy in the Modern Era tells VOA. "The advantage for Trump is that Kim's continued expansion of his nuclear weapons program is largely silent, and, at best, shows up on page 10" of local newspapers in the United States.

"If nothing positive happens, the Democratic Party hawks and the media may mock Trump's pretensions and claims to be a master negotiator," says Professor Peter Kuznick, director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University. "But as long as tensions don't re-erupt on the Korean peninsula, most Americans will be satisfied with the status quo and move on to other issues."

If Trump can keep the North Korean leader engaged, diplomatic efforts continue with sanctions still in place and Pyongyang maintains its moratorium on nuclear and missile testing, "Trump can pocket a foreign policy win going into the election," according to Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs.

With a status quo for at least another year, the president "can tell his supporters to stick with him so he can 'finish the job' in another four years," Heinrichs tells VOA.

There is anxiety Trump might trade away the presence of U.S. troops in the Far East for concessions by Kim on nuclear weapons or intercontinental ballistic missiles. Such a move, besides alarming allies, could also open Trump to severe political criticism back home from both the left and the right.

"There is concern "Trump will ad-lib concessions to Kim Jong Un without his team knowing about it before hand," says Duyeon Kim, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

"Concrete denuclearization steps don't mean getting rid of things they don't need anymore. It means touching parts of their program that matter, even if they are baby steps at first." She added that a "front-loading on U.S. concessions without getting anything proportionate in return, as Trump did in Singapore, risks losing negotiating leverage very quickly and allowing Pyongyang to dictate this entire process. "

Source-VOA

by RTC Director

DAMIAN WILSON APPOINTED AS POLICY/MEDIA AND CIVIL SOCIETY LIAISON MANAGER

Damian was born and raised on the island of Grand Turk and after spending a few years with then Turks & Caicos Utilities Ltd. (TCU), now Fortis TCI, as a lineman Apprentice/Mechanical Assistant, he gained an Associates Degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from the TCI Community College in 2006 and began his journey in communications with Radio Turks & Caicos (RTC) as a Radio Announcer/Presenter; simultaneously assuming the role of Sale Representative.

Damian went on to study in the United Kingdom, where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree (Hons) in Communications, Media & Journalism from the University of Buckingham and returning to the TCI took up employment with Digicel TCI as a Marketing Communications Executive, with responsibility for advertising and collateral development, digital asset management (including online marketing, social media and website management and assisting with coordinating stakeholder communications. Damian joined the Governor's Office team in 2017 as the Media & Civil Society Liaison Officer, where he managed various aspects of the Governor's Office communications and public relations, including media communications, public engagements, digital asset management, etc.

Commenting on his new appointment Mr. Wilson said; "I have always had a love for communications and connecting with people and am humbled and thrilled to be assuming this new role in my career as a member of the TCI Civil Service, one of the most hard working public sectors I know. This opportunity will allow me to serve the people of the TCI to an even greater extent. I believe that my time in the Governor's Office has been a great experience, one where I have contributed significantly to my role as Media & Civil Society Liaison, but where I have also learned considerably. I am honoured and privileged to be taking on this new role and I commit to bringing even greater dedication, intensity, focus to this role as I did the last. I look forward to what the future holds.”

Commenting on the appointment Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service Anya Williams said; “Congratulations is extended to Mr. Wilson on his recent appointment to the post of Policy/Media and Civil Society Liaison Manager within the Office of the Governor. It has been a pleasure having Damian as a part of the team in that office over the last two years. He is a perfectionist and takes great pride and responsibility in his work, making him a hardworking and trustworthy civil servant.”

In his new role Damian will maintain responsibility for media and civil society engagements, but in terms of Policy, will also be responsible for responding at short notice to numerous enquiries from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and other UK government departments on a broad range of issues, including: TCI’s educational and environmental responsibilities and will support the work of the Governor’s Office on disaster management and other regional and international issues affecting the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

by RTC Director

UPDATE ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SOLID WASTE SITE IN PROVO

The Environmental Health Department (EHD) is an arm of the Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services that is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health. One of the functions of the EHD is solid waste management which includes the solid waste disposal sites throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Environmental Health Department would like to inform the general public especially the residents of Wheeland, that the fire that was intentionally lit on Saturday February 2^nd, 2019 at the Providenciales Solid Waste Disposal Site has been completely extinguished effective Tuesday, February 19^th, 2019.

The following upgraded measures were implemented at the site:

• Security Patrol the site every half hour (previously security patrolled hourly)
• Repairs to the fence
• Additional Nightly Monitoring by Equipment Provider/Operator and EHD

EHD along with its stakeholders has worked around the clock to address and extinguish all fires at the Providenciales Solid Waste Disposal Site.

The Tender Notice for the Management and Operations of the Providenciales and Grand Turk Landfills is currently out and the Department should have a contract signed and implemented by April 1^st, 2019.

EHD would like to thank domestic and Providenciales International Airport Fire Services, DECR, equipment providers, equipment operators and other stakeholders who assisted in bringing the fire under control and extinguishing same. We also would like to thank the general public for their assistance.

We wish to assure the public that we are committed to safeguarding public health while also creating an environment that is healthy and aesthetically pleasing to both residents and visitors to enjoy.

by RTC Director

CIVIL SERVANTS INCREMENTS TO BE REINSTATED IN 2019

by RTC Director