Hon. Sean R. Astwood attends 21st Century Governance Summit
Hon. Sean R. Astwood, Deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control and Employment attended the '21st Century Government Summit' on January 16, 2018 in St. John's Antigua & Barbuda. The summit also saw Heads of Government from over 8 other neighboring Caribbean Countries.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, in collaboration with the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), hosted this Summit to present to regional Heads of Government the principles of 21st Century Government, the goal of which is to accelerate government and public service transformation and thereby strengthen economic competitiveness and promote sustainable development.
The feature address was delivered by Dr. The Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada and the CARICOM Head of Government who holds responsibility for science and technology. Hon. Mitchell expressed his full support and endorsed the establishment of 21st Century Governments in the Caribbean. He noted "21st Century Government principles are embedded in the Vision and Roadmap for the CARICOM Single ICT Space which was approved by CARICOM Heads of Government in February, 2017.
The 21st Century Government programme represents a significant step in the realisation of the vision for the Single ICT space by 2022. During his address, Hon. Mitchell called on his regional counterparts to 'take up the mantle to lead the transformation process' and stated, "As leaders, we must lead the process. That is our responsibility. We must use our power to make the paradigm shift to break from our traditional mindset, practices and methods of engaging our citizens. We must embrace information and communication technologies to transform and make the relationship with our government and citizens more effective and efficient."
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Hon. Gaston Browne, in his welcome address to his fellow Heads indicated his full support for the 21st Century Government initiative. Prime Minister Browne stated "The Caribbean Telecommunication Union's focus on 21st Century Government, starting with this Summit, is timely, welcomed and important. My government fully supports this initiative, as is evident by the work already being undertaken through the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Information Technology in Antigua and Barbuda." E-government services introduced in Antigua and Barbuda include border control and visa application systems, ASYCUDA World System, digitization and automation of business registries, onshore and offshore, land registry system and the driver's license renewal system.
Hon. Astwood remarked, "This summit could not come at a better time for the Turks and Caicos, one of the aims of my government is to upgrade outdated systems, improve technology and create more innovative, technologically driven products and procedures across our Ministries. Like other countries in the region, when it comes to technology we are desirous of implementing sustainable products that will bring us into the 21st Century. The Ministry of Border Control and Employment recently unveiled its readable plastic card on January 15th, 2018 to replace the cumbersome work permit cards that has been in use over the past years, this is the first step in fully moving to an automated border control system.
This is just one of the many products that my government will introduce to The TCI. Strides such as the one just mentioned will improve security, service, processes and efficiency in the country. The Turks and Caicos is already known to be one of the most beautiful countries' in the world and we are ready to make it one of the most advanced countries' also."
The representatives of Estonia, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Rein Lang, and of Georgia, Minister of Justice, Ms. Thea Tsulukiani, also gave outstanding presentations on what has been achieved in e-Government in their respective countries, both of which are rated in the top e-government countries in the world.
The Summit ended on a high note with a round-table discussion of Heads of Government who endorsed 21st Century Government. This set the stage for the three-day Symposium that followed.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCES 2018 ADDITIONAL INTERNATIONAL GRANT AWARDEES
The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services is pleased to publish additional grant awardees for 2018 for tertiary level studies. The Scholarship Advisory Committee met during the period of January 2018 to review potential applications after a thorough review of the 2017/18 tertiary education budget was made where the ministry identified saving allowing additional one-time grant awards.
The following twenty six (26) international awardees were successful based on decisions previously made by the Education Advisory Board on students deemed to have met all criteria but there were insufficient funds. In total, the Educational Advisory Committee considered forty six (46). This now brings the total number of grants awarded for academic year 2017/18 to 43 and international awards to 69.
The Ministry is committed to assisting Turks and Caicos Islanders in pursuit of their Educational endeavors to ensure a qualified workforce and people.
The public is reminded for the upcoming academic year 2018/19, the Ministry welcomes applications for Local and International scholarships and grants which are to be submitted by 30th April, 2018
Award letters will be available from January 29th 2018 and can be picked up at the Ministry of Education in Grand Turk, the Department of Education in Providenciales, during normal working hours, 8am – 4:30pm.
|
Surname Name |
First Name |
Program of Study |
Course Level |
|
Williams |
Kenesha |
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner |
Associate's |
|
Gaskin |
Tare-Davni |
Biochemistry & Computer Science |
Bachelor's |
|
Davidson-Swann |
Jordel |
Law with accounting & Finance |
Bachelor's |
|
Hall |
Loren |
International Business with Marketing |
Bachelor's |
|
Mayham |
Phildreka |
Management in a Service Economy |
Master's |
|
Mcleod |
Alexander |
Marine Biology & Ecology |
Master's |
|
Castillo Martinez |
Ariella |
ACCA (Accounting & Finance) |
Certification |
|
Higgs |
Camardia |
Bar Professional Training Course |
Certification |
|
Ingham |
Ebeni |
Accounting |
Associates |
|
Ingham-Charlestin |
Mauvette |
Human Resource Management |
Master's |
|
Palmer |
Rashadia |
Business Management |
Master's |
|
Parker |
Travis |
Project Management |
Master's |
|
Walkin |
Kathy |
Intelligence & Security |
Master's |
|
Delancy |
Kedeisha |
Neonatal Nursing |
|
|
Ewing |
Lyndon |
Business Administration |
Bachelor's |
|
Harvey |
Wilbert |
Bar Professional Training Course |
Certification |
|
Higgs |
Candace |
Banking & Finance |
Master's |
|
Joseph |
Schaidine |
Accounting & finance |
Bachelor's |
|
Rahming |
Yvonne |
Project Management |
Master's |
|
Clarke |
Pamela |
Accounting |
Master's |
|
Elliott II |
William |
Pre-University Business Course |
Pre-University course |
|
Gardiner |
Madison |
Law |
Bachelor's |
|
Grant |
Tiffany |
Business Management |
Bachelor's |
|
Hislop |
Charmony |
Event Management |
Bachelor's |
Coincheck promises 46bn yen refund after cryptocurrency theft
One of Japan's largest digital currency exchanges has said it will refund most of the $534m (£380m) worth of virtual assets lost in a hacking attack.
Coincheck has promised to use its own funds to reimburse more than 46bn yen ($423m) to customers who lost their NEM cryptocurrency coins on Friday.
The Tokyo-based company suspended trading after detecting "unauthorised access" of its digital exchange.
Some 260,000 customers are said to be affected by the reported theft.
Coincheck said on Sunday that the amount it has promised to return covers nearly 90% of the 58bn yen worth of NEM coins lost in the attack.
After the breach was discovered on Friday, the company froze deposits and withdrawals for all cryptocurrencies except Bitcoin as it assessed its losses in NEM, a lesser-known currency.
The stolen Coincheck assets were said to be kept in a "hot wallet", which is a part of the exchange connected to the internet, as opposed to a "cold wallet", where funds are stored securely offline.
The company says it has the digital address of where the assets were sent.
As many as 10,000 businesses in Japan are said to accept cryptocurrencies.
In 2014 MtGox, another Tokyo exchange, collapsed after admitting that $400m had been stolen from its network.
Hackers broke in at 02:57 on Friday (17:57 GMT Thursday), the company said in a statement, but the breach was not discovered until 11:25, nearly eight and a half hours later.
Company chief operating officer Yusuke Otsuka said 523m NEMs had been sent from Coincheck's NEM address during the breach.
"It's worth 58bn yen based on the calculation at the rate when detected," he told reporters at the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Coincheck then looked into how many customers were affected and whether the break-in had been launched from Japan or another country.
"We know where the funds were sent," Mr Otsuka added. "We are tracing them and if we're able to continue tracking, it may be possible to recover them."
Coincheck reported the incident to the police and to Japan's Financial Services Agency.
Source-BBC
Homes of Haitian migrants in Bahamas set on fire
Police in the Bahamas say a fire that was apparently set deliberately has destroyed dozens of homes in a shantytown made up largely of migrants from Haiti on the island of Abaco.
An official with the Royal Bahamas Police Force says a local man is in custody on suspicion of arson but has not yet been charged.
The fire started early Sunday in an area known as The Mudd in the town of Marsh Harbor and burned for several hours. Video from bystanders shows dozens of flimsy homes engulfed in flames in the densely packed community.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Emrick Seymour said Monday that investigators are still trying to determine the exact number of homes lost and how the fire was started.
There were no injuries.
Source-AP
Top Putin opponent urges Russia protesters to act "for yourself and your future"
Russian police arrested a top opponent of President Vladimir Putin on Sunday as thousands of people around the country protested against a lack of competition in presidential elections planned for this spring.
Alexey Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner who has become Russia’s most prominent opponent of Putin, was seized and dragged violently into a van by police as he tried to join one of the protests that he had called for in central Moscow.
"I was detained," Navalny tweeted in Russian after his arrest. "It does not matter."
He added, "You don't go for me, but for yourself and your future."
Navalny also tweeted a video of his arrest and photos from the protests.
The protests, which had been expected in 100 Russian cities, were called by Navalny after he was blocked from the election that is scheduled for March and in which Putin faces no substantial opposition.
In response, Navalny has called for a boycott of the vote. Sunday's protests were meant to back the proposed vote boycott while also tapping into discontent around official corruption and economic malaise. The protests were the first major demonstrations since Russia’s election campaigning began.
People joined demonstrations from Murmansk in the far north of Russia to the port of Vladivostok, which is 11 time zones away. Protests ranged in size from a couple dozen to several hundred people.
In many locations, the protesters were braving blisteringly cold temperatures; one of the coldest sites was in the far eastern city of Yakutsk, where it was 49 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.
In Moscow, a few thousand people streamed down the city’s central avenue, gathering at Pushkin Square around half a mile from the Kremlin. Several hundred stood there, chanting, “Putin is a thief” and “Russia without Putin.” Some carried joke signs mocking Putin. One man who was dressed in a Putin mask and wearing a crown walked around the crowd with a bucket asking for “taxes” and telling people he would “take everything there was.”
Police arrested at least 240 people around the protests across Russia, according to OVD-Info, an independent group that monitors arrests.
There was a markedly heavy police presence in Moscow ahead of the protest, with dozens of riot vans and empty buses parked waiting in case of arrests. Camouflage tents and an army-style field kitchen had been set up near the square.
Hours before the Moscow protest began, police raided the offices of Navalny’s organization, the Fund for Combating Corruption (FBK). Police claimed there was a bomb threat at the building, a common tactic used against opposition groups here.
Officers broke in the door to the office as Navalny’s staff conducted a live broadcast on his popular YouTube channel chronicling the protests. When officers arrived, the staff struggled to read their bulletin over the sound of sawing metal as police cut through the door into their studio. Police searched Navalny’s campaign offices in several cities ahead of the protests.
Compared with previous protests, however, the security forces were little used. Major protests in March and June saw large-scale arrests, with over a thousand detained in Moscow alone. This time, less than two dozen were detained in Moscow as police largely left protesters untouched. Police ordered demonstrators to disperse but did not move to seize them as at previous rallies.
Eventually, part of the Moscow crowd -- a few hundred people -- began marching in a column toward the Kremlin, chanting “Down with the tsar." Police permitted the protesters to get within around 1,000 feet, or 300 meters, of the Kremlin before most of the column turned back of its own accord.
The softer approach suggested authorities have adapted their tactics to Navalny, avoiding the mass arrests that had made global headlines last year and instead focusing on detaining the protests' organizers. Demonstrations called by Navalny on Putin’s birthday in October also saw few arrests.
Sunday's protests were seen as an important test for Navalny’s significance during the election, now that he has been barred.
Source-ABC
Russia banned from Winter Paralympics over doping
Russia has been banned from this year’s Winter Paralympics after the International Paralympic Committee found that the country had failed to reform itself sufficiently following its elaborate cover-up of doping by its athletes.
Some Russian athletes however will still be allowed to take part as neutrals in certain sports, provided they are able to meet certain conditions.
The decision means that Russia is barred a second time from a Paralympics over doping, after the IPC suspended it from the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, and it follows Russia’s recent banning from this year’s Winter Olympics.
The IPC’s president, Andrew Parsons, told a news conference in Bonn, Germany, that its board had voted to keep Russia’s national Paralympic committee suspended, meaning that Russia is excluded from taking part in the games in the South Korean town of Pyeongchang this March.
Parsons said although there had been improvement, the criteria for the Russian national committee to be reinstated had “not been met in full.”
"The IPC will allow Russian para-athletes who meet strict conditions to participate in March’s Paralympic Winter Games under the name Neutral Paralympic Athletes in the sports of alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, snowboard and wheelchair curling,” Parsons said.
The Paralympics ban comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) barred Russia from the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang this February over systematic doping, allowing only some Russian athletes to compete under under a neutral flag and forbidding Russia's national colors and anthem at the games.
The IOC has authorized 169 Russian athletes to compete as neutrals at the Winter Olympics after they passed an anti-doping panel.
The Paralympic Committee said Russian athletes allowed to take part in in its games in March will also have to have undergone additional testing. It expects around 30 to 35 athletes from Russia will participate in the Paralympics now.
The 169 Russian athletes allowed to compete in the Winter Olympics is around half what the Russian Olympic Committee had hoped to send.
Russian officials have denounced the Olympic ban as a U.S.-led plot to pressure Russia. Russia’s president Vladimir Putin in December suggested that the doping allegations against his country were designed to harm his re-election chances and implied American intelligence agencies could be behind them.
Source-ABC
Bruno Mars sweeps, Song, Record and Album of the Year at the 60th annual Grammy Awards.
Bruno Mars swept the top categories at the 60th annual Grammy Awards, and Kendrick Lamar took home five awards, leaving the event’s most nominated man (Jay-Z) and woman (SZA) shut out. But with only nine awards handed out on air out of 84, the focus of the night was, as usual, on the performances.
Here's the complete list of winners in key categories:
Record of the Year
"24K Magic" — Bruno Mars
Album of the Year
24K Magic — Bruno Mars
Song of the Year
"That's What I Like," Bruno Mars
Best New Artist
Alessia Cara
POP FIELD
Best Pop Solo Performance:
"Shape of You" — Ed Sheeran
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
"Feel It Still" — Portugal. The Man
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 — (Various Artists) Dae Bennett, Producer
Best Pop Vocal Album:
÷ (Divide) — Ed Sheeran
ROCK FIELD
Best Rock Performance:
"You Want It Darker" — Leonard Cohen
Best Metal Performance:
“Sultan’s Curse” — Mastodon
Best Rock Song:
“Run” — Foo Fighters
Best Rock Album:
A Deeper Understanding — The War On Drugs
ALTERNATIVE FIELD
Best Alternative Music Album:
Sleep Well Beast — The National
R&B FIELD
Best R&B Performance:
“That’s What I Like” — Bruno Mars
Best Traditional R&B Performance:
“Redbone” — Childish Gambino
Best R&B Song:
“That’s What I Like” — Bruno Mars
Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Starboy — The Weeknd
Best R&B Album:
24K Magic — Bruno Mars
RAP FIELD
Best Rap Performance:
“HUMBLE.” — Kendrick Lamar
Best Rap/Sung Performance:
“LOYALTY.” — Kendrick Lamar Featuring Rihanna
Best Rap Song:
“HUMBLE.” — Kendrick Lamar
Best Rap Album:
DAMN. — Kendrick Lamar
COUNTRY FIELD
Best Country Solo Performance:
“Either Way” — Chris Stapleton
Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
“Better Man” — Little Big Town
Best Country Song:
“Broken Halos” — Chris Stapleton
Best Country Album:
From A Room: Volume 1 — Chris Stapleton
ELECTRONIC FIELD
Best Dance/Electronic Album:
3-D The Catalogue — Kraftwerk
Best Dance Recording:
“Tonite” — LCD Soundsystem
OTHER
Best Music Video:
“Humble.” — Kendrick Lamar
Best Roots Gospel Album:
Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope — Reba McEntire
Best Traditional Blues Album:
Blue & Lonesome — The Rolling Stones
Best Americana Album:
The Nashville Sound — Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
Best Folk Album:
Mental Illness — Aimee Mann
Best Children’s Album:
Feel What U Feel — Lisa Loeb
Best Comedy Album:
The Age Of Spin & Deep In The Heart Of Texas — Dave Chappelle
Best Song Written For Visual Media:
"How Far I'll Go" — Lin-Manuel Miranda, songwriter (Auli'i Cravalho), Track from Moana: The Songs
Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling):
The Princess Diarist — Carrie Fisher
Best Musical Theater Album:
Dear Evan Hansen — Ben Platt, principal soloist; Alex Lacamoire, Stacey Mindich, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, producers; Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media:
La La Land — Various Artists
Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media:
La La Land — Justin Hurwitz, composer
Best Music Film:
The Defiant Ones — Various Artists
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical:
Greg Kurstin
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL HOLDS 1ST MEETING FOR 2018
His Excellency the Governor, H.E John Freeman, and the Hon. Premier, Mrs. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson co-chaired the TCI National Security Council (NSC) at the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building in Providenciales on January 15, 2018.
In attendance as members of the NSC were Her Excellency the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Anya Williams, Hon. Minister for Home Affairs, Mr. Vaden Williams; and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Trevor Bottin.
At this meeting, the NSC:
-Received an update from the Deputy Commissioner of Police on:
Recent successes in the fight against crime including joint operations with partners
Immediate priorities for enhancing the capability of the RTCIPF
Post Hurricane Irma and Maria damages on Estates noting that the Headquarters is now operational.
UK National Crime Agency in its effort to provide financial assistance for the reconstruction of a defense building.
Custody facilities in Providenciales: making court time more efficient to minimize travel
911 system challenges and strategic provisions for addressing this matter
Further efforts to engage the Tourism sector to discuss a strategic collective approach in the fight against crime
Air Crash Incident that occurred on December 23, 2017; which was handed over to the Air Accident Investigation Bureau in the United Kingdom to proceed with the investigation.
The recent gun related incident that occurred on January 1, 2018
Crime; trajectory showing a downward trend. Crime Report will be published in the coming weeks.
Progress made for the installation of a CCTV' system in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Community Policing around the Turks and Caicos Islands with emphasis on challenges in Salt Cay and South Caicos.
-Received an update from the Minister of Home Affairs, Telecommunication and Communication on:
The continuing challenges at the prison and strategic steps to remedying.
Human Resource matters at HM Prison following the departure of the current Superintendent of Prison.
-Received a report from the Deputy Commissioner of Police on TCI National Security Strategy that addresses the current and long term security issues facing TCI.
-Discussed the Drafting of the Security Bill, Interception of Communications legislation and Policing and Community Engagement (PACE).
Ongoing Roadwork - Paradise Road West
Please be advised that Paradise Road West is scheduled to be paved beginning by 8:00am on Monday, January 29th. Paving activities will last a full day.
During this time, Paradise Road West will serve as a one-way road. It will be closed to incoming traffic from Windward Road and Paradise East, however, it will remain open to incoming traffic from Cooper Jack Bay Road as displayed above.
If you are a resident of this street, your property access may be temporarily blocked with equipment as paving progresses. We ask that you please make appropriate arrangements to depart and/or return to your residence prior to paving commencing. Similarly, please do not plan to depart or return while paving operations are taking place immediately in front of your property.
Traffic controllers will be present onsite to give necessary directions to motorists thereby ensuring safe and efficient operations.
We apologize in advance for any disruptions caused by this work. Thank you for your patience as we work to improve the roads in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos.
PUBLIC FORECAST FOR MONDAY 29TH JANUARY 2018
GENERAL SITUATION: THE STRONG HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM ACROSS THE BAHAMAS WILL SLIDE EASTWARDS AS A COLD FRONT MOVING INTO THE AREA TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BOATERS AND BEACHGOERS SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION DUE TO ROUGH SEAS AND SURF AND THE HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS ALONG EAST COAST BEACHES. RESIDENTS IN WESTERN NEW PROVIDENCE SHOULD ALSO MINIMIZE EXPOSURE TO SMOKE EMANATING FROM FIRES AT THE DISPOSAL SITE.
FOR THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS
WEATHER: CLOUDY AND WINDY WITH SCATTERED SHOWER AND ISOLATED SHOWERS AHEAD AND IN VICINITY OF THE FRONT.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT.
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS AHEAD OF THE FRONT BECOMING NORTHWEST TO NORTH BEHIND THE FRONT IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 5 TO 8 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
FOR THE TURKS & CAICOS
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY AND WINDY.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 20 TO 30 KNOTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 8 TO 12 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 82F 28C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 72F 22C
SUN
SUNRISE: 6:54AM SUNSET: 5:51PM
MOON
MOONRISE: 4:04PM MOONSET: 5:55AM
TIDES
LOW TIDE: 12:00PM 12:01AMTUE
HIGH TIDE: 5:51PM 6:27AM TUE
EXTENDED FORECAST: THE COLD FRONT MOVE INTO THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS TONIGHT AND EXIT THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS BY WEDNESDAY WHILE A STRONG HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BUILD IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT.