Blood Bank in critical need of blood
The Turks and Caicos Blood Bank is desperately in need of O positive blood.
Radio Turks and Caicos was first informed recently through a text message dispensed by the Department of Health on Tuesday (June 20)
In a recent interview with Mr Ricardo Missick, medical technologist for the public health lab, he said that although the lab was in urgent need of these blood types, all blood types were welcomed to visit the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in Providenciales, or the Cockburn Medical Centre in Grand Turk to donate blood.
He said: "Blood stocks are down and we need to get blood stocks up.
"We usually try to keep at least 15 units of blood for Providenciales and at least five units or more for Grand Turk."
Although it is quite evident that the TCI population is increasing on an annual basis, Missick explained that only a small percentage of the people's blood is able to be used, for a number of reasons.
He encouraged everyone who is 17 or older and in good health, to go down to the hospital from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 4.30pm and state that they are interested in donating blood.
If it is a large group that is interested in donating blood, the blood bank will facilitate those individuals on a weekend.
The blood bank and the blood supplying system have been divided into two major activity centres; one is the inventory and the supply chain side, which falls under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health is responsible for contacting donors and bringing them in to donate blood.
Then, there is the transfusion service which is under the laboratory at InterHealth Canada.
The donors go and they donate a unit of blood which receives initial testing then it goes to the main hospital lab where the testing is repeated and if the physician deems that the patient needs a blood transfusion, then they complete the testing and do the transfusion at the laboratory.
Peter Tosh's son left in coma following jail beating
The family of the late reggae icon and marijuana activist Peter Tosh is seeking answers after they say his son was left in a coma following an attack in a New Jersey jail, where he was serving a six-month sentence on pot possession charges.
Jawara McIntosh has been hospitalised since suffering traumatic brain injuries in the attack in February at the Bergen County jail, where he was after pleading guilty to marijuana possession, his family said.
McIntosh, of Boston, performed under the stage name Tosh1. His father was a Jamaican-born musician and activist who started the Wailers along with Bob Marley. His 1976 hit "Legalize It" remains a rallying cry for those pushing to make marijuana legal.
Jawara McIntosh also was a pro-marijuana activist and performed the song outside of the New Jersey statehouse in April 2014 during a rally pushing for state and federal lawmakers to legalise or decriminalise marijuana.
Attorney Jasmine Rand said Thursday the family has filed a notice that it plans to sue the county and also wants the US Justice Department to investigate.
"My heart cries not knowing what happened to my son," said his mother, Melody Cunningham. "Not being able to talk to him because of the condition that he's in. (I'm) trying to be strong for him, I have to be strong for him."
His sister, Niambe McIntosh, said that they haven't been given any solid information about what happened. Rand said the county hasn't been forthcoming about providing evidence about what happened.
Source-AP
Britain's May vows EU citizens can stay after Brexit
British Prime Minister Theresa May promised Thursday to let EU citizens stay after Brexit as she met sceptical European leaders for the first time since her disastrous election gamble.
Under pressure from all sides since losing her parliamentary majority, May held out an apparent olive branch on the uncertain fate of three million Europeans living in Britain.
But leaders of the 27 nations that will remain in the EU after Brexit made clear that question was not at the top of their agenda, as they try to capitalise on a renewed sense of optimism to put the bloc back on track after years of austerity and crisis.
The EU sought instead to show its unity by pressing ahead with plans on counter-terrorism, defence and by renewing damaging economic sanctions against Russia over the war in eastern Ukraine.
"For me the shaping of the future of the 27 is a priority coming before the issue of the negotiations with Britain on the exit," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Europe's most powerful leader.
New French President Emmanuel Macron, attending his first summit, added that the EU had to "establish our own strategy based on our own interests."
A year after its shock referendum vote to leave the EU, Britain is mired in crisis. May's weakened position has raised fresh questions about whether to go for a so-called "hard" Brexit, which includes Britain leaving the European single market.
Over dinner at the summit, May addressed the issue of citizens' rights, one of the key three priorities for the opening stage of Brexit negotiations that began on Monday.
"The UK's position represents a fair and serious offer and one aimed at giving as much certainty as possible to citizens who have settled in the UK, building careers and lives and contributing so much to our society," May told her colleagues, according to a British government source.
No EU citizen currently in Britain would be asked to leave on Brexit day, she said, while EU citizens living in Britain for more than five years will get "settled status."
The prime minister said she expected any offer by Britain to be matched by the EU for the one million Britons living on the continent, the source said.
But May's proposal sets up a clash with the EU after she rejected Brussels's demand that the European Court of Justice oversee and resolve any dispute over citizens' rights post-Brexit.
With "taking back control" of British laws one of the reasons Britons voted for Brexit, May said the pledge on EU citizens would instead "be enshrined in UK law and enforceable through our highly respected courts."
EU President Donald Tusk said the other leaders would not discuss the plans with May, insisting that all such proposals are dealt with by official British and EU negotiators. The other main issues in the Brexit talks are Britain's estimated 100 billion euro (88 billion pounds, $112 billion) divorce bill, and the fraught question of Northern Ireland, which will be on Britain's only land border with the EU after Brexit.
Imagine there's no Brexit
Earlier, Tusk had channelled John Lennon's "Imagine" as he said he hoped Brexit could be reversed -- though others immediately poured cold water on the idea.
"Who knows? You may say I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one," the former Polish premier said with a broad smile, quoting Lennon's iconic song.
But Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel -- who has strongly argued for EU unity on Brexit -- said Tusk should let it be.
"I am not a dreamer and I am not the only one," Michel told reporters, saying he thought it was "British humour" by Tusk.
Tusk also insisted that the EU had turned a corner in the year since the Brexit vote, adding: "Never before have I had such a strong belief that things are going in a better direction."
Law to combat online terror
In Brussels, security was stepped up after Tuesday's failed bomb attack at one of the city's main rail stations by an Islamic State sympathiser, following strikes in Britain and France.
Tusk said leaders were all deeply concerned by the issue and agreed that if social media companies could not help prevent online radicalisation and hate-crime, then they were ready to introduce legislation to make them do so.
Leaders also endorsed the EU's growing efforts to build up defence capabilities, especially amid concerns about US President Donald Trump's commitment to transatlantic ties.
All 28 leaders including May meanwhile recommended another six-month rollover of tough economic sanctions imposed against Russia in 2014 over the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has claimed 10,000 lives.
TCI Hospital launches ‘Literacy Begins at Birth’ initiative
Caregivers and parents are being encouraged to incorporate language and literacy development in their child's daily routine.
Learn and Lead Educational Centre has partnered with TCI Hospital to launch the 'Literacy Begins at Birth' project.
Every baby delivered at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and later Cockburn Town Medical Centre on Grand Turk, will receive literacy and language tips along with an early childhood board book, which parents are encouraged to read to their little ones.
A press conference was held at the Providenciales healthcare facility on Wednesday (June 14) to explain the initiative.
Yolande Robinson, founder of Learn and Lead Educational Centre, said that parents and caregivers should be more intentional and targeted in their literacy and language intervention during this critical period.
She said: "Children acquire the tools for language and literacy before learning how to speak, read and write.
"There is a higher likelihood of language improvement if a child is exposed to more vocabulary and utterances, which will improve both their receptive and expressive language over time."
Commenting on the partnership, TCI Hospital chief of medical services, Dr Denise Braithwaite-Tennant said that a literate country is an empowered country.
"Even math problems start with a problem statement and one must clearly understand and comprehend the statement prior to attempting the numeric calculation.
"The majority of births delivered at our health care facility are recorded at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre.
"We have an immense opportunity to engage mothers in our care and provide these basic tools for literacy and language development."
Braithwaite added that today's world is so heavily dependent on electronics and the missing component is the human touch and the bi-directional conversation.
She said that mothers of all nationalities will be empowered by this book provided by Learn and Lead Educational Centre, which encourages children from birth to have an interest in reading, which today seems to be a lost art.
Staff at Learn and Lead Educational Centre believe that it is important for people to take a more proactive approach to language and literacy development in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Research worldwide outlines the need for quality early childhood home learning environments in order to help build stronger literacy foundations for children between birth and five years of age.
Children in the Turks and Caicos Islands typically begin formal education at the age of three.
The greatest amount of brain growth occurs between birth and age five.
In fact, by age three, roughly 85 percent of the brain's core structure is formed.
Problems associated with literacy later in life are traced back to the earlier years of life in many cases.
DDME hosts hurricane preparedness culinary cook-off
Three groups of students from the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College participated in the second annual hurricane season culinary cook-off.
The event was held on Tuesday (June 13) at the Providenciales branch of the college and was hosted by the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME), in collaboration with the school.
The theme for the initiative was, 'Do you know how to cook a nutritionally balanced meal with limited food sources?'
Group One and winners of the competition told media that they had prepared for the competition before it began so they already had in mind how they were going to execute their ideal meal.
Director of the DDME, Dr Virginia Clerveaux, explained that her goal was to ensure that the students were properly equipped in case a natural disaster occurs.
She said: "We have been doing various public education campaigns, so we wanted to begin focusing on the health.
"As the famous saying goes, 'the health of a nation is very important' and we wanted to ensure that we have a healthy population that can assist, and not just with the response effort, but also in the recovery effort."
Judges for the event were Chief of Medical Services at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, Dr Denise Braithwaite Tenant, nutritionist Tamika Handfield and local chef Nikita 'Chef Nik' Skippings.
Dr Braithwaite Tenant said that she views the initiative as very important.
"This is a very good initiative. This initiative is very useful, especially for myself, being a mother who is often wondering what to cook if power goes off.
"I think that this is a very good opportunity to showcase to the public some of those delicious yet nutritious meals that you can cook with non-perishable items. So, I really do like it."
Chef Nik, head judge and culinary ambassador for the TCI, noted that in the future he wants to see more food being cooked on charcoal grills because there is always a chance of not having electricity during hurricane season.
He said: "I would have liked to see some cold stoves [charcoal grills] involved because remember that during a hurricane season there might not be any electricity and most of the amenities that we are used to in terms of preparing food is not available to us.
"I think next year we are going to have the charcoal grills. We are going to allow it to be more challenging for our participants in this event."
TCAAF Raises over $20,000 from 17th Annual Jadot Cup Golf Tournament
Eighteen teams took part in the TCAAF’s 17th Annual Golf Tournament which commenced at 1:30pm. It was a great turn out and fun was had by all who attended.
According to the Jadot Cup Chairman and TCAAF Director Terry Drummey “The 17th annual Jadot cup was a memorable tournament and dinner. Approximately 80 golfers came out this year, many of whom take part year after year and we would like to thank all of them for their continuous support. Our congratulation to this year’s winning team members: Mike Flynn, Billy Simonton, Marc Rawlins and Gervin Simmons (photo attached). A special thank you goes out to all the companies that donated to this worthy cause; Wine Cellar, Opus and Dave and his staff from the Provo Golf Club who helped to make our 17th year a huge success.”
Director of Golf at the Provo Golf Club, Dave Douglas highlighted, “This year’s Jadot Cup event and Silent Auction was a fun filled fundraiser for the Provo Golf Club in its 17 years of operation.” In conjunction with the golf tournament, the Wine Cellar hosted its 17th Annual Jadot Cup dinner at Opus on Friday, 9th June 2017. The sold out event was fully enjoyed by all with a menu of delectable dishes and intriguing wines. A silent auction was additionally held during the evening to raise further funds for the TCAAF. Mr. Galmo Williams, TCAAF Patron, said “Kudos to Tony Arata and the Opus team for hosting an unforgettable food and wine pairing. Their staff’s professionalism and courteous manner were unforgettable; A special ‘Thank You’ to our Silent Auction sponsors, like Shore Club , Hemingways and Amanyara (just to name a few) who donated excellent prizes which inspired wallets to open eagerly. We would also like to thank the patrons that bid generously on the silent auction prizes knowing that it was all going to a worthy cause.”
The weekend’s event not only helps to raise awareness of the TCAAF but also assists with funds towards its flagship project - the Edward Gartland Youth Centre in Downtown, Providenciales. The Centre which caters to young people between the ages of 10-18 years old has had over 1700 young people registered.
The funds raised by TCAAF assists the Youth Centre with their various extracurricular programmes and projects for the young people who frequent the Centre and the operational costs of the Centre. Being able to make a difference in the lives of the youth in the Turks & Caicos Islands through the various programs, including volleyball, basketball, tennis, art & craft, computers and dance to name a few, is very rewarding.
We would like to express heartfelt gratitude to our Silent Auction and Hole sponsors of the 2017 Jadot Cup, who helped make it a success:
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Hugh G. O’neill & Co. Wine Cellar Hemingways CIBC First Caribbean Finishing Touch Opus Raymond Gardiner High School Provo travel Point Grace West Bay Club
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Graceway IGA Miller Simons O’Sullivan Nila Destinations Amanyara Ocean Club Resorts Olympic Construction PWC Villa Del Mar Club Med
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Provo Golf Club Seven Stars Sotheby’s Realty Solana Restaurant Royal Bank of Canada Shore Club Stelle Restaurant The Palms The Insurance Company Zest Restaurant
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TCI DELEGATION ATTENDS GAMING SUMMIT IN JAMAICA
The Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Culture & Gaming, senior official, Michelle Fulford Gardiner along with Wayne Higgs and Damion Seymour, staff members from the Gaming Inspectorate Department, returned to the TCI last weekend after attending the 7th Caribbean Annual Gaming Show & Summit, 14th – 15th June, 2017, and held in Montego Bay, Jamaica at the Convention Centre.
The event was hosted by the Betting Gaming & Lotteries Commission of Jamaica, with international sponsors such as Aristocrat, Spin Inc., Golden Race and Signature Gaming. Participants hailed from 12 countries representing regulatory agencies, gaming operations, and technologies laboratories. The Summit comprised of formal presentations, plenary sessions dealing with trending issues within the region. Topics included:
De-Risking
Anti- Money Laundering
Security & Fraud
Esports/IGaming
Responsible Gaming
Casino Protection and Surveillance
The highlight of the summit was a break-out session - "The Caribbean Regulators Forum", which brought together regulators from the region in a common forum, focusing on core issues, related to constraints and challenges experienced by regulatory agencies.
The timeliness of this Summit cannot be understated as it is a precursor to the Turks & Caicos Islands Government plans to implement legislation and policy for the establishments of a Gaming Commission.
Minister of Gaming, Hon. Ralph Higgs stated; "The ministry in its preparatory phase to usher in a new Gaming Commission with increased compliance and monitoring of the sector, ensuring that the Commission is well resourced to deal with issues of non-compliance and illegal gaming. The sector, no doubt, has emerged into an area providing business investment and employment opportunities for locals, however, equally important is our efforts to incorporate "responsible gaming" as a critical aspect of the industry."
The event also provided an elaborate exhibit space, where participants got first hand exposure to new games & technology, whilst networking with supplier and distributors. The TCI delegates agreed that the summit underscores the research, growth and development in this industry and such exposure will go a long way in efforts being made to provide the TCI Gaming industry.
"Committed and Dedicated"- Hon. Karen Malcolm sworn-in as new Education Minister
THE COUNTRY`s new Education Minister, Karen Evadney Malcolm said she is 'committed and dedicated' to ensuring that every child receives the best education and opportunities under her stewardship.
Honorable Malcolm who is also the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly was sworn- in on Tuesday (June 20th) by Governor John Freeman, upon commendation of the Premier.
Malcolm's appointment came on the heels of the revocation of former Minister of Education Josephine Connolly after a fallout with the Premier over claims of insolence and falsehood.
Premier Sharlene Cartwright -Robinson at a press briefing at her office in Providenciales on Tuesday introduced the New Minister to the media and by extension the nation.
She said: "I'm delighted to introduce the newest member of our Cabinet, she defied all odds and successfully ran as an all-island candidate in the general election for the People`s Democratic Movement (PDM).
"She was elected Deputy Speaker shortly after, a former banker and assistant accountant at Building materials ,founder of the heart foundation and active member of the Soroptimist club and her church, she`s a wife , a mother and a grandmother.
"I am pleased to announce that she hails from the Island of Grand Turk and have resided in Providenciales for over 2 decades, Honorable Karen Evadney Malcolm is the new Minister for Education, Sports and Library Services and we have every confidence that she will make Turks and Caicos proud and will serve these islands well."
Malcolm speaking to the nation for the first time in her new capacity said that she is grateful to God for the opportunity to serve her people.
She said: "I'm grateful to serve in the capacity as the Minister of Education, let me first say a special thank you to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands who elected me in the 15th of December, as their representative.
"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the students who took the GSAT examination last month and earlier this month, I would like to say congratulations, you did an exceptional job, congratulations also to the parents and teachers, because I know that without teachers the students would not have been as successful as they were."
The new Education Minister pledged to leave no stone unturned to ensure that each child receives optimal edification in the Turks and Caicos Islands."
Informing the nation of her humble beginnings Malcolm said: "I am and will always be a Turks and Caicos Islander, I was born in Grand Turk, I migrated to the Bahamas where I received my education.
"I knew that I would return to these beautiful islands because God placed in my heart at an early age, the love and respect for my home country and today I can say that God had been faithful to his promise and it's all because of his grace that I am here today and I so pleased that he has chosen me.
"This is my season and I ask the people of the Turks and Caicos to continue to support me continue to support our Ministers as we continue to do our best for each and everyone living here among us."
Malcom is confident that her experience, passion and love for children and youths will enable her to address challenges within the Ministry from an informed viewpoint.
Chief among her achievements over the years is her role in getting the Ministry of Health to send twins with heart condition to the UK.
She is a past president of Soroptimist International of Providenciales.
One of her many significant roles is to assist and mentor two young girls from their adopted Government schools and provide hygienic items for them at the beginning of each term.
In addition, Malcom is the past president of Women Aglow Int'l Grand Turk Chapter.
She spends her free Saturdays, volunteering at the Providenciales library assisting children with reading.
3-DAY BAHAMAS & TCI WEATHER FORECAST
GENERAL SITUATION: THE NORTHERN PORTION OF A TROPICAL WAVE IS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS AND WILL SPARK A FEW SHOWERS TODAY. WHILE HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS THE AREA MAINTAINS FRESH TO STRONG BREEZES.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: MARINERS AND BEACHGOERS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT DUE TO ROUGH SURF AND THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS MAINLY ALONG THE EASTERN SHORELINES OF THE ISLANDS.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY, HOT AND BREEZY WITH A FEW PASSING SHOWERS AND A FEW POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY ACROSS THE TCI.
ADVISORY: A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 5 TO 8 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
HIGH TEMPERATURE TODAY 91°F 33°C
LOW TEMPERATURE TONIGHT 79°F 26°C
SUNRISE: 6:21 AM
SUNSET: 8:03 PM
MOONSET: 5:29 PM
MOONRISE: 4:58 AM THU.
LOW TIDE: 11:53 AM 12:46 AM THU.
HIGH TIDE: 6:19 PM 6:37 AM THU.
EXTENDED FORECAST: THE TROPICAL WAVE IS EXPECTED TO MOVE WEST OF THE ISLANDS TONIGHT. WHILE HIGH PRESSURE WILL INFLUENCE THE WEATHER WITH BRISK WINDS MAINLY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN ISLANDS THROUGH FRIDAY.
FORECAST FOR THURSDAY
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY, HOT AND A BIT BREEZY WITH A FEW POSSIBLE PASSING SHOWERS.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS & 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL & TCI.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS & 4 TO 7 FEET IN THE CENTRAL & SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
FORECAST FOR FRIDAY
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY, HOT AND A BIT BREEZY WITH A FEW POSSIBLE PASSING SHOWERS.
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.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: SEE THE LATEST NEWS ON TROPICAL STORM CINDY. ELSEWHERE, TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 5 DAYS.
Russia 'hacked' 21 US states in election
Russian hackers targeted election systems in 21 US states during last year's campaign, said a US official.
Jeanette Manfra of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) refused to identify the states during her testimony before a Senate panel, citing confidentiality agreements.
But she added there was no evidence to suggest actual vote ballots were altered in the election hack.
US intelligence agencies believe Moscow interfered to help Donald Trump win.
Ms Manfra, the department's acting deputy undersecretary of cyber security, testified on Wednesday before the Senate Intelligence committee, which is investigating Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 election.
"As of right now, we have evidence that election-related systems in 21 states were targeted," she told the panel.
She said DHS still had confidence in the US voting system because they are "fundamentally resilient".
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement in election cyber hacks while Mr Trump has dismissed allegations that his campaign colluded with Russia as "fake news".