Wetlands for our future "World Wetlands Day 2016"
Wetlands for our Future: Sustainable Livelihoods is the theme for World Wetlands Day in 2016. The Department of Environment & Maritime Affairs (DEMA), in collaboration with the Turks & Caicos National Trust and the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund (TCRF) will be highlighting the vital role of wetlands for the future of humanity.
World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2 February. This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
"DEMA, and its partners, hope to educate the community at large about the importance of wetlands to our Islands' ecosystems as a whole. Wetlands are often neglected, or worse: filled for building, however these sites are very diverse providing habitats for marine and terrestrial fauna as well as important floral species. If we understand this, conservation of our wetlands would come automatically," said Amy Avenant (DEMA Environmental Outreach Coordinator).
Recently a number of mangrove seedlings were removed from Wheeland pond after a school planting. On February 2nd Students from the Clement Howell High School will be assisting DEMA and the National Trust by replanting mangroves in the area.
Youth between the ages of 15 and 24 are encouraged to participate in the International World Wetlands Day Photo Contest. The contest will run from 2 February to 2 March, 2016. The winner will win a free flight to a famous wetland of their choice courtesy of Star Alliance Biosphere Connections, and other prizes will be given to runners up. To enter the competition Young people are invited to take a photo that shows "people making a living from wetlands" Upload up to 3 photos on the World Wetlands Day website www.worldwetlandsday.org Other members of the public can participate by voting for their favourite photo and help contribute to the selection process.
DEMA and the National Trust would also like to invite members of public to join them for a brief walk-through of Wheeland Pond, on Providenciales, on Saturday 6 February 2016. The walk will begin at 08:00 am sharp. Come along and learn why wetlands are important!
VALUING OUR PAST - A MUSEUM FOR ALL OUR SCHOOLCHILDREN
Following a recent visit to the National Museum in Grand Turk to open a new exhibition, Governor Peter Beckingham commented:
“I've always been a big fan of museums, and working in the Caribbean hasn't changed my view. The Museum of Slavery in Nassau presents a detailed, and disturbing, account of the impact of slavery in the Bahamas, and museums in St Kitts and Nevis portray a fascinating picture of life before independence. Nelson's Dockyard in Antigua is renowned for a superb collection of memorabilia and historic buildings.
But for my money, although of course I am biased, our National Museum in Grand Turk takes some beating for its variety of history. In a 90 minute visit it is possible to see remains from a 17th century Spanish galleon sunk off our shores, a short account of the impact of European settlement on local inhabitants, and gauge the extraordinary achievements of some of America's first astronauts, including John Glenn's famous splash down in our waters in Friendship 7 in 1962 prompting a visit by no less than the then Vice-President Lyndon B Johnson to Grand Turk.
I was at the Museum again this month, to see the opening of a new exhibit designed to illustrate how the role and style of Governors here has changed. The display inevitably includes the famous plumed hats beloved of a former era, and shows how dependent former Governors were on mail and postage. No internet links for them.
As well as casting off the archaic symbols of an earlier era, Governors in our Overseas Territories now have much easier access to guidance, advice and indeed instructions from London. For example, when we and London were considering recently the impact of TCI's extraordinary economic turnaround, and its success in paying off the UK guaranteed loan, it was possible for representatives of a range of interested officials from different Departments like the Treasury, Foreign Office and International Development in London to gather by teleconference with TCI. Ministerial views are known almost instantly.
Similarly, when an event like the arrest of Dominican Republic fishermen or Haitian migrants in our waters takes place, the BBC can carry the news within hours. This means that TCIG or UK Ministers or Governors no longer have the luxury of days, or even hours, to fashion a public statement.
Our National Museum gives a great flavour of how our history and culture has been influenced by surrounding events. The sinking of a Spanish ship, or even the return to earth of John Glenn, were not known about as rapidly as they would be today. But by understanding our history, and seeing exhibits like those at our National Museum, we are in a much better place to interpret and respond to the different events which impact on Turks and Caicos.
Congratulations to the Museum, not least as it celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, on being such an integral part of TCI's history and culture. Its director Pat Saxton, the many volunteers who give hours of their time to welcome visitors, and its sponsors deserve all the support we can give. I hope every school in Turks and Caicos will have on its itinerary a visit to the Museum as well as TCI's other historic landmarks, like "Waterloo", Duke Street and The House of Assembly.”
LIME ASSISTS STUDENTS FROM WESLEY METHODIST
ast week Thursday, January 21st, a total of fifteen (15) enthusiastic fifth form students visited LIME’s Main Retail Office, as a practicum and means of gathering information for their final report to be presented as part of their Building and Design Technology School Baseed Assessment (SBA) for CXC.
Accompanying the students on their industrial visit to LIME was their subject teacher, Mr. Chartlon Walkin who thoroughly enjoyed the experience himself. LIME’s Marketing and Communication Exec, Darron Hilaire Jr, facilitated the visit as the tour guide for the day, taking on questions and concerns from each of the students regarding LIME TCI/C&W brand identity, products, services, and processes.
“This is a report for CXC. They are required on their second to last term that a report be done on an industrial visit. And, every year around this time I would speak to my principal, giving her two or three names of companies, and she would tell me this one would be better this year”, explained Mr. Walkin.
He added that his principal encouraged the visit to LIME saying, “They’ve been here a long time and they can give the children a lot of information to allow them to do a thorough report.”
Fortunately the students had an opportunity to visit almost every facet of LIME from marketing to corporate sales to managed services, including Ericson’s head end.
“The students asked very informative questions that I believe would assist them in determining a suitable career path. These sort of trips gives them an inside look to how industries work at a micro and macro level and help to steer their young minds in the right direction to choose the career that best fits them,” said Ronald Gardiner, Managed Services Manager, who facilitated the technical aspect of the tour with the students.
Thanks to the Corporate Sales Division each of the students walked away not just with an abundance of information to reduce into a final report, they also were given 2016 C&W Business Branded Journals as a gift.
Sixteen (16) year old, Bernard Capron shared afterwards he now has a better understanding of the systems and processes LIME uses to achieve their success on an annual basis.
“I wasn’t even aware that LIME was this big”, Bernard Capron.
The only female in the bunch, Ms. Arielle Neely, said, “I have learned a lot today, it’s a lot to process and I hope that LIME continues to build and grow themselves even more.”
It is always a pleasure for us at LIME to assist with request of this nature as we continue to be champions in the industry for youth and education. We wish each of the students success in their finals.
THE 3-DAY PUBLIC FORECAST
THE 3-DAY BAHAMAS PUBLIC FORECAST FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT MONDAY 25TH JANUARY 2016
GENERAL SITUATION: A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL EXTEND ACROSS THE BAHAMAS GENERATING PLEASANT WEATHER TODAY...
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BOATERS AND SWIMMERS SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION DUE TO MODERATE NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS AND THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG NORTH AND EAST COAST BEACHES...
FOR ALL AREAS
WEATHER: A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS AND MILD WITH THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF A BRIEF SHOWER OR TWO TODAY MAINLY IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS...FAIR AND COOL AGAIN TONIGHT...
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD USE CAUTION...
WINDS: NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS...
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET NEARSHORE AND UP TO 7 FEET OFFSHORE MAINLY ALONG NORTH AND EAST COAST BEACHES...
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 74°F 23°C
OVERNITE LOW TEMPERATURE 57°F 14°C
SUNRISE: 6:55AM MOONSET: 7:49AM
SUNSET :5:49PM MOONRISE: 7:31PM
HIGH TIDE: 8:33AM LOW TIDE: 2:58PM
HIGH TIDE: 8:54PM LOW TIDE: 3:00AM TUE
EXTENDED FORECAST: (FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS)...HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE BAHAMAS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS WHILE SLOWLY SHIFTING EASTWARDS...
FORECAST FOR TUESDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND A BIT BREEZY WITH THE CHANCE OF AN ISOLATED SHOWER OR TWO...MAINLY FAIR AT NIGHT...
WINDS: SOUTHEAST AT 15 KNOTS IN THE NW BAHAMAS AND EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CNTRL/SE BAHAMAS...
SEAS: 3 TO 5 FEET IN THE NW BAHAMAS AND 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE CNTRL/SE BAHAMAS...IN NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS...
FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY
WEATHER: A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS WITH A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS POSSIBLE... FAIR AND MILD AT NIGHT...
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NW BAHAMAS AND EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CNTRL/SE BAHAMAS...
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NW BAHAMAS AND 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE CNTRL AND SE BAHAMAS IN SUBSIDING NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS...
THIS IS THE PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT MONDAY 25TH JANUARY 2016
GENERAL SITUATION: HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE OVER THE ISLANDS WILL BEGIN SHIFTING EASTWARD AND THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL STRENGTHEN CREATING MODERATE TO FRESH BREEZES OVER THE ISLANDS.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BOATERS AND SWIMMERS ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION DUE TO MODERATE NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS AND THE RISK OF RIP CURRENT ALONG EASTERN AND NORTHERN SHORELINES.
NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND MILD WITH THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF A BRIEF PASSING SHOWER, FAIR AND BREEZY TONIGHT
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IS IN EFFECT
WINDS: EAST-NORTHEAST TO EAST-SOUTHEAST 10 TO 15 KNOTS SHIFTING TO EAST TO SOUTHEAST 15 TO 20 KNOTS LATER
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET INCREASING TO 4 TO 6 FEET BUT UP TO 9 FEET IN NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS
SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WEATHER: A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS, BREEZY WITH THE CHANCE OF A PASSING SHOWER MAINLY IN THE EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN ISLANDS, FAIR AND BREEZY TONIGHT
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IS IN EFFECT AND AN ADVISORY WILL COME INTO EFFECT LATER TONIGHT
WINDS: NORTHEAST TO EAST 15 TO 20 KNOTS INCREASING TO 20 TO 25 KNOTS LATER TONIGHT
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET INCREASING TO 7 TO 10 FEET OVER THE OCEAN
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 77F 25C
OVERNITE LOW TEMPERATURE 57F 14C
SUNSET: 5:49 PM
SUNRISE: 6:55 AM TUE
MOONRISE: 7:31 PM
MOONSET: 8:29 AM
LOW TIDE: 2:58 PM & 3:00 AM TUE
HIGH TIDE: 8:54 PM & 9:13 AM TUE
Trump Surging in Iowa One Week Before Vote
Republican Donald Trump is surging in Iowa with a week to go before the first votes are cast in the 2016 U.S. presidential election process. A Fox News poll shows Trump moving into a big lead over Texas Senator Ted Cruz by a margin of 34 to 23 percent, with Florida Senator Marco Rubio in third place with 12 percent. A new CBS News Battleground Tracker on-line poll shows Trump with a smaller lead over Cruz at 39 to 34 percent, with Rubio trailing at 13 percent.
These latest surveys show Trump gaining support with less than a week to go before the February 1st Iowa caucuses, the first official voting test of the 2016 campaign. Trump told supporters in Muscatine, Iowa, that he is making an all-out effort in Iowa. “I want to win Iowa, I want to really win it” he said.
Trump's poll surge comes after Cruz was put on the defensive when Trump raised questions about his eligibility to be president because Cruz was born in Canada to an American mother.
The latest polls also show Trump holding a big lead in New Hampshire, which follows Iowa with the first in the nation presidential primary on February 9th. The latest Fox News poll shows Trump with 31 percent in New Hampshire followed by Cruz with 14 percent and Rubio at 13. Ohio Governor John Kasich received nine percent support in New Hampshire followed by former Florida governor Jeb Bush and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, both at seven percent.
The polling news for Trump is also encouraging in South Carolina, which votes later in February. The CBS News on-line poll has Trump ahead with 40 percent support from Republican primary voters, followed by Cruz at 21 percent and Rubio at 13 percent. The top Republican contenders meet for one more debate Thursday in Des Moines, their last before next Monday's caucuses.
Source-VOA
European Youth Turn Against Immigration
Opinions of young Europeans appear to be hardening toward immigration. Ask them about their lives and talk quickly turns to the challenge of finding jobs and the threat of Europe being overrun by migrants.
In Hungary, Kitti, a 28-year-old sports teacher and mother of an eight-year-old girl, says, “I went to the main railway station in the summer to help migrants." But since then her heart has hardened.
“I think we need to stop them coming, they think differently from us, especially when it comes to women.”
She cites the notorious drunken gang assaults on women in Germany’s Cologne and Hamburg during the New Year festivities. She describes herself as a progressive in politics, but backs Hungary’s controversial prime minister, Viktor Orbán, in his demand that Europe staunch the flow of refugees and migrants.
To the north of Hungary, anti-migrant protesters in Poland took to the streets Sunday to echo Kitti’s fears. The protesters at Gora Kalwaria, 30 kilometers south of Warsaw, said they feared for women and children after the New Year’s Eve sex attacks in Germany.
Others complained migrants would not be able to integrate because of different traditions.
A radical proposal to put a fence around Greece, cutting it off from the rest of the European Union to curb the flood of migrants, is gaining traction among the continent’s political elites and will be at the forefront of what are likely to be contentious talks Monday between European interior ministers in Amsterdam.
Source-VOA
Vote Your Voice becomes The TCI Patriots
In its continuing efforts to play a role in creating and promoting long-term, dynamic and tangible change throughout the tiers of TCI society, the ‘Vote Your Voice’ voter registration campaign group has now evolved into ‘The TCI Patriots’. The members of ‘The TCI Patriots’ remain the same as with the group’s ‘Vote Your Voice’ voter registration campaign but the group has set its sights on new goals for 2016 and beyond.
While the group previously focused on encouraging persons, especially the youth, to register to be able to vote, The TCI Patriots will have a different focus. This time around, the group describes its main focus as “safeguarding the future of the TCI by seeking to empower fellow Turks & Caicos Islands’ Patriots through information and education” on all matters that affect society.
It intends to achieve this objective through an information and education initiatives, which will involve focusing on issues that the group considers matters of national importance. The new initiative will see The TCI Patriots using various mediums, such as radio, newspaper, television, and social media, in order to communicate with the TCI public
Damian Wilson, a TCI Patriots member, said that: “We, as young people in the TCI, have tried being a part of other organizations that don’t seem to have the will to inspire and drive fundamental change throughout TCI society. So we have been searching for something that will allow us to learn, to grow, and to lift up our voices and be a part of the national conversation, and we could not find it. That is why we looked within and created this group; out of the necessity to belong and to be involved. We love the Turks & Caicos Islands; I am a patriot, you are a patriot, we are all patriots, out of love for country first.”
Wilson went on to express that: “After wrapping up a successful voter registration campaign, our group has decided that it is time to shift gears and really make a difference in the TCI by making a difference in people’s lives. Our mission statement is clear: ‘We are determined to bring about change through unity, love and nation building. Through Leadership, Integrity, Fraternity and Education, we will Help Our People Excel to Possess Our Wealth, Economy and Resources. This is LIFE, HOPE and POWER.’ We are not a political party, or a non-profit organization; but rather a group of concerned citizens who have decided to exercise our constitutional right to freedom of conscience, of expression, of assembly and of association.”
The group says that it believes that a plurality of voices, in all areas of society, is important to ensure healthy democratic growth, especially in countries like the TCI. The first issue that it will address over the course of the next few weeks will be the issue of leadership. This will be done through online and newspaper articles, a series of radio shows, and other mediums.
CARICOM AND ITALY STRENGTHEN TIES
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Italy continued on the path of stronger relations on Wednesday as the new Italian Ambassador to the Community presented his credentials at the Secretariat's Georgetown, Guyana headquarters.
CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque received the letters of credence from His Excellency Silvio Mignano who is based in Caracas, Venezuela.
Both men emphasised the strength of the friendship between the Community and Italy and Ambassador Mignano observed that there were similarities, particularly of lifestyle, between the region and his country.
Ambassador LaRocque expressed his pleasure at the Italian envoy joining the CARICOM family and cited the long history of co-operation between that country and the Community. He also took the opportunity to remind the Ambassador of the unjust blacklisting by Italy of some CARICOM Member States as non-co-operative tax jurisdictions. He expressed the hope that this issue would be rectified urgently given the adverse effect such an action was having on the economic and banking sectors in the Community.
Wednesday's ceremony came in the wake of the signing of two co-operation documents between the Community and Italy last month during the COP 21 in Paris, France. A memorandum of understanding to establish mechanisms for cooperation in 13 socio-economic fields was signed by Ambassador LaRocque and Italy's Special Envoy for the Countries of the Caribbean, Paolo Serpi. CARICOM and Italy also signed a pact to start a five-year program worth six million euros to help Caribbean countries mitigate the negative impact of climate change. The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) signed on behalf of the Region.
TOURISM PARTNERS READIES YOUTH EXPLOSION 2016
Some of the nation’s most talented youths will come together in a time of fun and creativity at 10:00am at the Gustavaus Lightbourne Sports Complex on Friday, January 29, 2016 to participate in the tourism, culture, and environmentally centered Youth Explosion.
A joint initiative spearheaded by The Tourist Board, TCHTA, DEMA, Environmental Health Department, Youth Department and Royal Turks & Caicos Police Force, the 2nd Annual Youth Explosion is an extension of the annual Tourism Environmental Awareness Month (T.E.A.M.) activities, usually observed in November of each year.
T.E.A.M. is aimed at creating tourism and environmental awareness among the population that will positively improve the Turks and Caicos Islands for the pleasure and livelihood of its citizens, the delight and comfort of our many visitors, and to educate our people on the importance of tourism to the island and the region.
The Youth Explosion, similar to the Youth Congress, allows the nation’s youngest minds and talents to be instrumental to the future of tourism and hospitality in the Turks and Caicos. Students from the high schools, both public and private, throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands have been invited to compete in the categories of original song, poetry, dance, and a costume competition which require the costume to be made of recycled or recyclable materials. All of the performances are to be inspired by or based on the theme: “Tourism Is Key … It Starts with ME”. In addition, this year participants will be charged by motivational speaker, K. Darron Turnquest of The Bahamas.
Speaking on the expectations of Youth Explosion 2016, Blythe Clare, Training Manager for the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board and T.E.A.M. Leader says, “We’re very excited about Youth Explosion 2016 as last year we saw great talent and potential from our young people. We are certain the participants will up the ante this time, so we are looking forward to an inspiring day of activities in which we invite the public to attend and show support.”
To reward the efforts of the participants, designated winners of each category will receive prizes to experience the best in hospitality in the Turks and Caicos Islands.