PUBLIC FORECAST FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT THURSDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2016
GENERAL SITUATION: A MID TO UPPER LEVEL TROUGH ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS CONTINUES TO ENHANCE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ACROSS THE ISLANDS.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BOATERS AND RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR THE RISK OF FUNNEL CLOUDS OR WATERSPOUTS.
AREA: NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT TODAY WITH CLOUDY INTERVALS OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TURNING PARTLY CLOUDY TONIGHT WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND A FEW POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS BUT FALLING VARIABLE AT TIMES IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS…EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN OVER THE OCEAN.
AREA: SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT TODAY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TURNING MAINLY FAIR TONIGHT WITH A STRAY SHOWER OR TWO.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IS 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 92 °F 33 °C
LOW TEMPERATURE TONIGHT 74 °F 23 °C
SUNRISE: 7:01AM MOONSET: 6:23 PM HIGH TIDE: 7:25AM 7:43PM
SUNSET: 6:58PM MOONRISE: 6:38AM FRI LOW TIDE: 1:38PM 1:59AM FRI
EXTENDED FORECAST: (FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS) THE MID TO UPPER LEVEL TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO SHIFT WESTWARD BUT RICH TROPICAL MOISTURE ACROSS THE AREA WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
FORECAST FOR FRIDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST & CENTRAL BAHAMAS… EASTERLY AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS IN THE SOUUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FT IN THE NORTHWEST & CENTRAL BAHAMAS…5 TO 8 FT IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
FORECAST FOR SATURDAY
WEATHER: A MIX OF SUN & CLOUDS AND HOT WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS…15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS…15 TO 25 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS… 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS… & 5 TO 8 FEET I THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
National Youth Policy Is Needed say PDM Deputy Leader
We must reintroduce a National Youth Policy that is aimed at ensuring that the youth play their role, alongside adults, in the development of the Turks & Caicos Islands. This policy should promote youth participation in community and civic affairs and ensure that youth programmes are youth centred. This policy should propose guidelines and strategies that can be used to facilitate participation of the youth in national development. Although the number of organizations dealing with young people has increased over the years, the lack of a comprehensive policy makes it difficult for these groups to effectively address these challenges.
Through this new National Youth Policy, we will assist in fostering a culture of positive youth development and participation in decision-making around activities that affect the lives of youth, and increase the capacity of service providers to provide accessible, relevant and high quality services for young people and their families.
This new National Youth Policy will facilitate a multi-sectoral approach to youth development, including the strengthening of mechanisms for coordination and collaboration among youth-serving organizations. The multi-sectoral approach requires services that are coordinated, meeting to the degree possible, the complete needs of each young person. The response must be tailored to different subgroups of the youth population, including young men and young women and youth of different ages. This approach will facilitate and promote active youth and stakeholder participation throughout the process.
This Policy will accept that a coordinated and collaborative response represents the most suitable strategic response in order to effect positive youth development, while fostering the active participation of TCI’s youth in the process. Youth development is a multidimensional process through which young persons are assisted to meet their basic developmental needs, and to build individual assets and competencies, which will assist them to function and succeed as adults. It will embrace the process of human growth and development, as well as, activities, programmes and services provided to assist young people in the overall development process, and in making the transition to adulthood easier and more productive.
This new National Youth Policy, while targeting youth, recognizes the need to utilize the life-cycle approach to strengthen the development of TCI’s human capital. It accepts that there is a continuum between the stages of physical, emotional and psychological development of human beings. These changes are most pronounced in the early stages of life. Hence, positive and productive adulthood is the result of a process of development that passes through three major (dependent) phases; childhood, adolescence and youth. Positive youth development focuses on addressing the broad developmental needs of the young person, needs which are linked to cognitive, social, physical, emotional, and moral growth. In contrast, deficit-based models tend to focus solely on youth problems.
It is generally agreed that every young person needs a core of 5 basic things to survive and develop. These are: “At least one adult who is irrationally committed to his or her well-being (parent, mentor, etc) A safe place for sleeping, playing, learning, working and being, A healthy start and a healthy lifestyle, The chance to contribute and serve others, Opportunities to learn values and marketable skills for adulthood. No one organization can successfully guarantee continued access to these five basic ingredients for all TCI’s youth. It is therefore important that this Policy adopts and endorses a multi-sectoral approach to youth development in The Turks & Caicos.
Consultations would be held country wide and include youth, government representatives and members of the public in general. The priority areas of the new Policy should take into consideration the numerous issues affecting our youth today. A list of these issues would be identified through research. We must also seek the critical input of our young people, who will substantiate that unemployment and education-related issues (including treatment by teachers and relevance of what is taught) as the most critical issues affecting them. Other commonly cited issues to me from a number of young people include crime and violence, gender disparities, lack of national unity, the illicit drug trade and drug use, teenage parenting, ignorance of culture, and the need for activities and opportunities for youth.
This new National Youth Policy will be our country’s blueprint for our young people and we must ensure that it is much more than a document that we can say for the record that we have a policy.
Hon Sean R. Astwood
Rep. Five Cays
PDM Deputy Leader
National Heritage Month 2016
On the 1st October, Turks & Caicos Islands will commence celebrations in observance of National Heritage Month 2016. The Department of Culture within the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Culture, Heritage and Gaming will be hosting several activities throughout the islands under the theme "Our Culture, Our Heritage, Our Turks and Caicos".
A number of activities will be undertaken. One special feature will be a "Rep Your Island" Logo Competition which is open to all residents throughout the islands. Competitors will be given the opportunity to design a logo that best represents an island of their choice.
"My team and I are excited to be hosting the activities for this year's National Heritage Month. It is an opportunity for all residents to come together and engage in showcasing their diverse skills and abilities", said Director of Culture, Ludwina Fulford
"Throughout the month, we look forward to meeting with persons from the various communities and we encourage as many persons as possible to participate in the planned activities, as we celebrate and pay homage to our rich cultural heritage."
Minister of Culture, Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith commented; "I am thrilled once again to celebrate National Heritage Month. Our heritage is embedded in who we are, we ought to stand proud and embrace what the month signifies. We have a full slate of activities from cultural shows, local food, and entertainment. I am confident the month long activities will showcase the very essence of who we are, Turks & Caicos style!"
We wish to extend a Happy Heritage Month to all! Let's make Turks and Caicos proud.
MATTHEW MOVING WESTWARD THROUGH THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN
THIS IS A NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM MATTHEW ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, AT 6AM, THURSDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2016.
… MATTHEW MOVING WESTWARD THROUGH THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA …
AT 5AM DST, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM MATTHEW WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.0° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 64.7° WEST OR ABOUT 320 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO.
MATTHEW IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 16 MPH, AND A GENERAL WESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED WITH SOME DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF MATTHEW IS FORECAST TO PASS TO THE NORTH OF ARUBA, BONAIRE, AND CURACAO ON FRIDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GRADUAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS, AND MATTHEW IS FORECAST TO BECOME A HURRICANE THURSDAY NIGHT.
THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT 12PM.
LARGE SCHOOLCHILDREN PARTICIPATION IN FOOTSTEPS4GOOD
Over 800 schoolchildren from Grand Turk took part in Footsteps4Good on Friday, 24 September, the walk started in 2014 by Jill Beckingham, the Governor's wife, to raise money for local schools and NGOs.
"It was wonderful to see such enthusiastic participation from the youth of Grand Turk in Footsteps" said Jill, " with every main public and private school taking part, as well students from the Community College. In addition to the schools, a number of Grand Turk NGOs, including the Soroptimists, Red Cross, Cancer Foundation and the National Museum, will receive funds from Footsteps."
On Saturday 25 September a group of mainly adults took part in a walk or run from the gazebo outside the House of Assembly to the Cruise Centre, where local businesses and individuals provided a welcome drink and refreshments.
"One of the highlights for me" said Jill Beckingham "was the relaxed atmosphere, with people from all parts of Grand Turk's community taking part and enjoying themselves in a healthy start to the day."
On Sunday, 26 September, Footstep4Good continued its island-wide journey to Salt Cay, with 25 visitors from Grand Turk joining with members of the local community and schoolchildren to walk or swim around part of the island, followed by a lunch of the local delicacy of whelk soup and sandwiches prepared by Miss Pat.
After walks in South, North and Middle Caicos during the week, Footsteps4Good culminates with a walk on Youth Day with schoolchildren from Clement Howell to the National Stadium, and the final 10km walk or run from the IGA to Blue Haven on Saturday morning 1 October.
Police Investigates Burglaries and Attempted Robbery
Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating a number of burglaries that occurred last week on Providenciales. During the burglaries, the culprits were able to get away with a number of items. Stolen from several victims were a number of Flat Screen televisions, cellular phones, printers, and an undisclosed amount of cash. Two vehicles were also reported missing and had since been located.
Investigations are also ongoing into an attempted robbery which occurred on Friday 23rd September 2016 at 12:04 PM when a complainant contacted 911 central and reported that a male was inside of CAM MONEY transfer located at Morris Plaza Airport Road with a knife and demanding money. As a result of this, police officers visited the scene where information received that a dark skin five ft tall male dressed in a black t-shirt, black pants and a green shirt covering his face entered the establishment when he ordered a customer to put up the closed sign on the door. He then proceeded to make that customer give the teller a shopping bag to place money. However, the clerk ran to the back of the office and contacted the police. The culprit then fled the scene. No one was injured, and nothing was stolen.
Investigators are also investigating an attempted burglary that occurred earlier this morning (Monday 26th September 2016) at La Vista Azul hotel located on the Lower Bight Providenciales that left a man with injuries about his head.
The victim reported to police that around 3 AM as he was making his rounds on property three men dressed in long dark clothing and hoodies over their head rushed and beat him about his body with a gun and another object before smashing a glass for the property’s front office. The three males then ran leaving him on the ground. The scene was visited by police officers, and a search was conducted for persons fitting the description, no one was seen.
Police are seeking the assistance of persons who may have information about any of the incidents or may have seen someone in possession of items that is suspected to be stolen to please call Crime Stoppers on 1-800-8477 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.tc, Chalk Sound Police Station 338-5901/941-8067. The information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter page.
US band sues so it can trademark 'offensive' name
An Oregon band's bid for the right to trademark their "offensive" name has reached the US Supreme Court.
The case was brought to the Supreme Court by The Slants after their trademark was refused because the name is disparaging to Asian-Americans.
The Asian-American band acknowledges the name may offend, but say they chose it to "reappropriate" its meaning.
The ruling could impact the high-profile case of the American football team, the Washington Redskins.
In 2014 the US Patent and Trademark Office cancelled the team's six trademarks, including the lucrative team logo, after years of complaints from Native American groups.
The Slants had first attempted to register their band name in 2011, and sued after they were refused.
The Portland, Oregon "dance-rock" band, which is made up entirely of Asian-Americans, claimed that they chose the name to take back the racial epithet.
A lawyer for bandleader Simon Tam argued that his client "was following in the long tradition of 'reappropriation,' in which members of minority groups have reclaimed terms that were once directed at them as insults and turned them outward as badges of pride."
On Thursday, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear the band's case. Hearings will begin next week and are expected to last several months.
Source-BBC
GOVERNOR SALUTES TCI'S SPORTS ICON, MRS RITA GARDINER
The Governor, Peter Beckingham, presented the award of the British Empire Medal on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen to Mrs Rita Gardiner for her services to sport and women in the Overseas Territories, especially TCI, on 29 September.
At the presentation ceremony which was attended by members of Mrs Gardiner’s family and friends the Governor said:
"I am thrilled for Mrs Gardiner to receive this great distinction, and I am pleased to have the opportunity on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen to present this award to her.
"Rita has made a big contribution to society in Turks and Caicos. She has been instrumental for longer than I know in raising our profile in sport, and for ensuring our rightful place in the region and the Commonwealth.
"I saw first-hand in 2014 her enthusiasm for organising the Commonwealth Baton relay which landed in TCI on its way across more than 60 nations. Her support for Delano Williams is fantastic, and it is clear from meetings with them both that our first Olympian has benefited from her advice, guidance and enthusiasm. Rita travelled with Delano's mother, with support from the Premier's office, to Rio to watch Delano compete in the Olympic Games.
"Finally we should not forget the work Rita has done to improve the lot of women in TCI society. Her path-breaking work as Director of the Gender Unit has been important in raising the profile of women in society, and she has been actively engaged in striving to reduce domestic violence.
"We should salute Rita for what she has achieved for TCI in sport and the promotion of women. The Award of a British Empire Medal is a wonderful recognition of her work, and she and her family and friends should take great pride in this important honour."
Commenting on her award, Mrs Gardiner said: "I am honoured and delighted to be a recipient of this Award by Her Majesty. Coming in the same year as TCI's first Olympic athlete, my good friend Delano Williams, took part in the Olympic Games this is a big recognition of the strides we have made as a sporting nation competing on the world stage. I am pleased to have played a part in that progress through my work with the Amateur Athletic Association and the Commonwealth Games Association.
"I am pleased too that my work in helping to promote and safeguard the place of women in society is recognised with this Award.
"This is an important and memorable day not only for me, but also for my wider TCI family. I am grateful for all the support I have received from so many people here and overseas."
In addition to receiving the British Empire Medal Mrs Gardiner will be entitled as a member of the Order Of the British Empire to use a special chapel in St. Paul's Cathedral for baptisms of grandchildren. There is also a special service in St Paul's in November for new members, and a Ceremonial Service in Spring 2017 to mark the Order's Centenary.
Region Of The Americas Become First To Eliminate Measles
The Region of the Americas has successfully eliminated Measles, Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome. The announcement was made, September 27th, 2016 at the World Health Organization for the Americas’ 55th annual Directing Council in Washington DC. It is the first region to have eradicated small pox, the first region to have eliminated poliomyelitis and now it is the first region to have eliminated Measles, Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS).
The process began within the Americas in 2007 where countries were urged and agreed to work towards the elimination of Measles, Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). Measles and Rubella are highly infectious diseases which affect the respiratory system; CRS can be contracted by infants born to mothers who have not received the rubella vaccine.
The last reported case of Rubella within the Americas was in 2009, this allowed the International Expert Committee (IEC) to validate the region as having eliminated Rubella and CRS in 2015. Measles was scheduled to be a part of this validation, but because of the outbreaks in Canada, the United States, Brazil and Ecuador during the period in which the region was to be validated, the verification was withheld.
Elimination means that a region would have had to interrupt endemic transmission of Measles over a period of time. Simply put, all the countries in the Americas would have needed to have zero cases of Measles, Rubella and CRS contracted within any of the countries for a period of time. The last outbreak of Measles in the region was in 2015 in Brazil as a result of an imported case from another region.
“Today we say bye-bye to indigenous transmission of Measles. We celebrate this historic day in which the scourge has been eliminated,” said Dr. Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Premier Dr. The Hon. Rufus Ewing stated; “The Turks and Caicos Islands is elated to be a part of this great success. The country has always boasted of its high coverage in Measles and Rubella vaccination over the years, due to the hard work and dedication of our public health staff and public health policies over the years. We will continue to work to maintain a high coverage in all vaccines and to go even higher.”
Elimination does not mean eradication and so the work must continue to ensure that we keep the TCI Measles, Rubella and CRS free.
In attendance at the 55th Directing Council and also the conference on Medical Health Tourism is the Hon. Premier and Minister of Health Dr. Rufus Ewing, Permanent Secretary Mr. Wesley Clerveaux along with other members of staff from the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services and the office of the Premier.
Buckingham Palace maintenance boss jailed over bribes
The official in charge of maintaining Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II's London residence, was on Wednesday jailed for five years for accepting more than £100,000 OR (US$130,000) to award valuable contracts.
As deputy property manager for the Royal Household, Ronald Harper, was also responsible for maintaining St James's Palace, Clarence House and Windsor Castle until he was suspended in 2012.
Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith at London's Southwark Crown Court sentenced the 64-yeard-old to three-year and two-year jail terms for two counts of conspiracy to make corrupt payments, a total of five years. "During his employment, Harper personally received more than £100,000 in covert payments from companies which were awarded lucrative and prestigious contracts.