RTC Director

interCaribbean Airways introduces new Providenciales -Tortola Flights.

interCaribbean Airways is pleased to introduce a new way to Tortola every Wednesday and Saturday, Tortola from Providenciales.  Beginning May 3, these new same plane flights will fly to Tortola via Santo Domingo.  (no deplaning required).  This new service is designed especially for Caribbean Passport holders (without a USA Visa) to be able to visit BVI, bypassing San Juan or St Thomas as the USA points of entry..

The service with a 30 seater Embraer 120 aircraft commences on May 3, 2017 and adds to interCaribbean' current nonstop flights from Beef Island to both San Juan and Antigua giving increased connectivity for Tortola to Santo Domingo.

The initial schedule will operate as follows.

Schedule

Flight No              From     To             Eff                          Till                   Days                Stops          Dep        Arr

JY233/411            PLS         EIS          01-May-17          04-Nov-17           Wed Sat               1              12:00     3:15

JY410/234            EIS          PLS         01-May-17          04-Nov-17           Wed Sat               1              12:00     3:15

EIS = Tortola, PLS = Providenciales

Trevor Sadler, interCaribbean Chief Executive Officer said "Tortola is a great destination covering a wide range of tourist possibilities, especially for sailing, with quite possibly the largest sailing fleet world-wide.  The BVI offers unique Islands, fabulous boutique resorts and exclusive villas.  We are happy to be adding another destination to Tortola and removing the obstacles of a Turks & Caicos Passport Holder in visiting the BVI.  Also for the BVI citizen the ability to now easily visit friends and family in the Turks & Caicos Islands has become so much easier.

by RTC Director

'Accountability and transparency'-Governor emphasises need for proper review of statutory bodies

GOVERNOR John Freeman has stressed the need for bonafide evaluations of statutory bodies in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Governor in a release issued on Wednesday (April 5) highlighted the need for more transparency and accountability as it relates to the function of statutory boards.
This comes as a recent report on the management of the National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) was submitted to Cabinet by the Chief Internal Auditor.
The Governor said: "In December 2016 I commissioned the Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) to conduct a review of the management of the NHIB in light of the serious issues involving significant liabilities that had arisen earlier that month.

"The report by the CIA has since been considered in Cabinet, most recently following receipt of responses from the NHIB."
Governor Freeman asserted that the report serves as a reminder of the important responsibilities placed on the boards of statutory bodies.
He said that responsibilities are especially weighty on boards such as the NHIB, where they are responsible for very significant financial resources with contingent liabilities for the public finances.
He disclosed: "TCIG transfers over $45 million each financial year to the NHIB in respect of payment of the TCI Hospitals infrastructure costs, the Treatment Abroad Programme and Contributions for Wards of the State.

"This accounts for a significant proportion of TCIG's overall expenditure costs and along with the contributions of residents across TCI requires prudent management and accountability."
Governor Freeman propounded that given the considerable financial impact statutory bodies can have on the TCIG budget, it is crucial that CEOs and senior management recognise their responsibilities in adequately providing oversight and management over these entities.

He noted that: "Board members must be prepared to carry out the required governance and performance monitoring activities needed to ensure effective management of these entities.
"By extension, CEOs and other senior management officers must be prepared to be held accountable for management shortcomings.
"The object lessons from the NHIB are particularly acute: it is not beyond the realm of possibility – as I have illustrated – that serious mismanagement of the NHIB or of certain other boards could cause a serious run upon the budgetary resources of TCI."

The Governor further noted that the need to address the issues raised as it relates to the NHIB is evident and is now being taken forward.
He said: "But I believe they also reinforce the need for a proper review of the statutory bodies, especially of those which carry the largest risks, managerial and financial but also reputational for TCI.
"The Premier and I are committed to setting such a wider review in train as soon as possible."

In December 2016, news broke that funds have been misappropriated at the NHIB.

Then PDM while in opposition had accused the PNP Government of covering up the state of finances of the NHIB, which was said to be in dire need of a financial bailout.
Cabinet statements indicated that the NHIB was hemorrhaging financially.

At that time, Leader of the PDM, Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson slammed the former Government for being negligent in relation to the financial affairs of the National Health Insurance scheme.

by RTC Director

$60 million budgeted for local projects

LOCAL contractors are being strongly encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities being offered under the 2017/2018 budget that was tabled in the House of Assembly on Monday (April 3).

The Premier, her ministers of Government and other PDM elected House members on Tuesday celebrated 100 days in office, highlighting their accomplishments and plans for the country going forward.
One of the significant initiatives is that of encouraging local contractors to position themselves to take advantage to some earn money through the whopping $60 million allocated for projects across the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Premier, however, acknowledged that her Government needs to do something to assist these local contractors in successfully bidding for projects.
She told the press: "I will meet with local contractors and I would try as much as possible to encourage them to be a part of the training because one of the challenges have been is that a number of our persons who have bid were not successful in their bids because they were not properly prepared.
"So we want to make sure that our people have a fair opportunity, and this comes with an investment on their part to be available or make themselves available for the training that will be coupled with the meeting I would have."

She further promised to announce the dates for these proposed meetings with contractors in a few days.

The training will focus primarily on the tendering and bidding process.

Over the past several years the past administration has been having major issues with local projects not being awarded, bid for, and as result not getting off the ground.

However, the PDM Government has promised a new course going forward, one which will hopefully see the majority, if not all of the budgeted projects being completed.

by RTC Director

Students to compete in second annual Long Bay High School pageant

NINE young women will compete in the Long Bay High School's second annual pageant at the Tropicana Show Club in Providenciales on May 26 at 6.30pm.

Kavanna Hanna will represent Parrot Cay, Celine Fredric will represent Grand Turk, Laura Walkin will represent Salt Cay, D'asia Saunders will represent West Caicos, Alisia Williams will represent Middle Caicos, Tashly Belthius Will represent East Caicos, Quinique Cartwright will represent Providenciales, Audrea Stubbs will represent North Caicos and Erika Pinales representing South Caicos.

The pageant, which is centred on providing the students with personal development, grooming and giving them general exposure, will be celebrating the theme 'Old Hollywood Glam'.
Pageant coordinator Tiffany Ivey said in an interview that the event helps pupils to build their self-esteem and encourages them to embrace their talents and their individualities.
She said: "The pageant is really geared at promoting and exposure for the young ladies' personal development and growth.

"Basically we want them to be aware of themselves and to garn and relish experiences for promoting personal growth for themselves."
The ladies will be competing in the areas of Best Evening Gown, Best Talent and Best National Dress.

Contestant Stubbs said that if she won the title of Ms Long Bay High, she would use this as a platform to encourage students to believe in themselves and to work together as one.
Cartwright said that if she won she would promote equality and self-acceptance.

Last year Jamika Prosper and Keanu Williams had the most votes for best overall female and male contestants, so were crowned Mr and Ms Long Bay High School 2016-2017.
Long Bay High School opened its doors in 2015 for the 2015 to 2016 academic year.

Located in the Long Bay Hills area, the Long Bay High School as it is named, is a fully functional high school separate and apart from the Clement Howell High School.

by RTC Director

No more money for fencing of Leeward fitness park

THE GREEN fitness park in Leeward is not one of the Government's priorities, according to Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning, Goldray Ewing.

Ewing on Monday (April 3) dismissed a question by elected member for Leeward and Long Bay, Akierra Missick about fencing of her constituency's new park.

The minister in response to the member's question in the House of Assembly, stated that his Government has a lot more priorities to deal with than the fencing of the park.
He turned the question over to the Minister of Education for her to answer as the project was initially started under that ministry.
However, the Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson intervened in the exchange, pointing out that whatever the previous administration had budgeted for the programme would be in the new budget, as there has been no request for additional funding or variations.

The project, which was a signal project for Missick while she was the education minister, had been delayed due to shipment of equipment back in December.
But according to the infrastructure minister, that shipment has now arrived and the park is being completed.
The park is located in Yellow Elder Road, in Leeward Palms and first saw the past administration breaking ground on April 13, 2016.

It was one of Missick's promises to her constituency after being elected in 2012.

At the time of the ground-breaking, the former minister of Government had stated that the $400,000 investment is not a ploy, but one to foster better health and fitness practices for the people of the community.

Spread out on some 1.5 to 1.8 acres the park consists of a picnic area, gazebo, basketball court and multipurpose courts, a baby and toddler play area, an adult area, kids area.
It was the intention of the former administration to replicate similar park spaces across the Turks and Caicos Islands, with South Caicos slated to be next in line.

by RTC Director

Police Investigates Robbery

Detectives of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have launched in investigation to find three (3) males who robbed a couple while in the Lower Bight area of Providenciales.

Around 12:49PM, 911 received a report of a robbery and immediately dispatched officers to a Resort located on Stubbs Road where the 41 year old victim was met.

He told officers that after dropping his family off to a beach near the resort he went to park his vehicle in the parking Lot and whilst there, he was approached by three (3) males all dressed in black clothing pointing a black and grey handgun and the other with a rifle. They took his sunglasses, cellular phone and the 2007 Blue Suzuki Swift rental car licence plate number TC7599.

The vehicle was later recovered at the Princess Alexandria Beach access on the Lower Bight.
Investigations are ongoing.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or have information that can assist with investigation, Contact the Chalk Sound Police Station at 338-5901. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1- 800 8477 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.tc.

by RTC Director