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".
Kia tops J.D. Power quality rankings
Kia took the top spot in J.D. Power's annual report card on vehicle quality for a second consecutive year, as industry ratings reached a new record and domestic brands maintained their edge over foreign rivals.
Kia, with 72 problems reported per 100 vehicles, was able to retain its No. 1 position despite a shake-up in the 2017 U.S. Initial Quality Study rankings that included significant shifts with the German and Japanese brands -- most notably, Toyota and Lexus -- falling behind many U.S. and Korean brands.
"This is without question the best quality the world has ever seen," Dave Sargent, vice president, global automotive at J.D. Power, said when releasing the results at an Automotive Press Association meeting in Detroit. "The industry is picking up steam and really improving the quality of their vehicles."
In its first year as a standalone brand, Hyundai’s luxury Genesis brand debuting at No. 2, with 77 problems reported per 100 vehicles. Porsche, with 78 problems, dropped to third -- its lowest ranking since 2015.
Ford and Ram, both with 86, rounded out the top five brand positions -- marking the highest positions in the study for both brands and the first time since 2011 that two Detroit brands have ranked that high.
Sargent said Ford's improvement, up from 11th in 2016, was largely because of its new Sync 3 infotainment system, a replacement for its previous Sync and MyFord Touch system that plagued the brand's rankings in recent years.
J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Initial Quality Study
| Nameplate IQS ranking | Problems per 100 vehicles | |
| Kia |  |
72 |
| Genesis | |
77 |
| Porsche | |
78 |
| Ford | |
86 |
| Ram | |
86 |
| BMW | |
88 |
| Chevrolet | |
88 |
| Hyundai | |
88 |
| Lincoln | |
92 |
| Nissan | |
93 |
| Volkswagen | |
93 |
| Mini | |
94 |
| Buick | |
95 |
| Toyota | |
95 |
| Industry Average |  |
97 |
| Lexus | |
98 |
| GMC | |
99 |
| Chrysler | |
102 |
| Mercedes-Benz | |
102 |
| Acura | |
103 |
| Cadillac | |
105 |
| Honda | |
105 |
| Dodge | |
106 |
| Infiniti | |
107 |
| Jeep | |
107 |
| Subaru | |
113 |
| Audi | |
115 |
| Mazda | |
125 |
| Land Rover | |
131 |
| Mitsubishi | |
131 |
| Volvo | |
134 |
| Jaguar | |
148 |
| Fiat | |
163 |
Source-AutoNews
Guyana pleased with first rice crop for 2017
Guyana produced more than half a million tonnes of paddy in the first crop for this year with exports of the commodity totalling more than US$92 million, according to figures released by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) on Wednesday.
The GRDB said that 518,667 metric tonnes of paddy was produced during the first crop, a 26 per cent increase over the same period last year.
“So you see the first crop figures have been better despite all that have occurred in the industry. Farmers are resilient. Additionally, from paddy supplied to millers across the rice-growing regions, a total of 337, 133 metric tonnes of rice was produced. This is a 26 per cent increase over last year's first crop figures,” GRDB acting general manager, Allison Peters. However, while there have been increases in production, the rice board has been grappling with a decrease in exports of rice and paddy for the first four months of the year, due to the fact that exports to the Panama market for the first crop not materialising.
For the first crop 2017, exports amounted to 239,442 metric tonnes, some 60,000 tonnes less that for the same period last year. Foreign exchange earnings from the export of rice and paddy amounted to US$92.02 million.
Peters noted that while the exports were significantly less than for the corresponding period last year the comparative value of the exports were not much different.
Source-CMC
Major Upset in Church Softball League in Provo
The Church Co-Ed Slow Pitch League Championship began last Thursday night 15/6/17.
The first game of the night was for Third and Fourth place between Roman Catholic Church and Jericho Baptist Church.
In that game, Jericho took control from the outset, but in the second inning the Romans protested the game based on eligibility of one player. The game was allowed to continue under protests and Jericho went on winning this game 12 to 8 for the third place until the protests was heard.
The Championship game began at 8.30pm between Global United and Prophecy Church, in the first inning, Global came out swinging putting four (4) runs on the score board, but Prophecy also too called a timeout, protesting an Eligibility of a player also putting this game under Protests.
This game continued to play under Protests but Global took complete control of this game both in offense and defense and in the end Global defeated Prophecy 10 to 5.
RTC Sports was made to understand that the federation held a board of directors meeting on Saturday at 4pm where both protests were heard. While RTC Sports was not allowed in, the verdict was returned and the hearing found Jericho and Global both in violation of ISF Rule 11 Protests;
"When a protest for in eligibility of a team roster member is allowed, the game shall be forfeited by the offending team". Since Jericho and Global won both games with ineligibility players on there team roster "lineup sheet", Jericho and Roman Catholic were downgraded in there positions Romans 3rd and Jericho fourth.
With Global winning the first game "the best of five game series" was also over turned and the first game awarded to Prophecy.
The second game of the championship will be played Monday June19, 2017 at 7pm at the national stadium.
Bolt to run in Monaco
Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt will run the 100 metres at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco on July 21, organisers announced on Wednesday.
The Jamaican sprinting legend is competing in his final season before retirement and will use the Monaco event as a warm-up for the world championships in London that start on August 5.
The world-record holder (9.58sec) won his first race of the year in Kingston earlier this month in 10.03sec, and is also due to run in Ostrava on June 28.
Bolt, who has won three Olympic 100m-200m doubles, will only compete in the 100m for his farewell at the worlds.
The 30-year-old saw his tally of Olympic gold medals reduced from nine to eight earlier this year, when the Jamaican team were stripped of their 2008 4x100m medals after Nesta Carter's disqualification for doping.
Source-AFP