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.
STATEMENTS FROM THE CABINET MEETING OF TCIG
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the 2nd meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, 20 January 2016, at the Hon. N J S Francis Building on Grand Turk.
All Ministers were present except the Hon. Deputy Premier and the Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture.
At this meeting Cabinet:
· Agreed in principle, subject to amendments and further consideration by Cabinet, a draft paper for wider consultation to establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) for TCI to create a mechanism for setting aside a proportion of future budgetary surpluses to improve fiscal resilience, assist in financing large infrastructure developments and to ensure the future prosperity of TCI;
· Approved, in accordance with relevant Ordinances, the appointment of members to the Adoption Committee, the Children (Care and Protection) Advisory Committee and the Prison Categorisation Board as follows:
Adoption Committee: Tiffany Thomas Browne (Chairman); Keran Toussaint (Member); Alexia Durham (Member); Desiree Downes (Member); Ian Astwood (Member); Carolyn Dickenson (Member); Marie Pierre (Member); Emily Saunders (Member); Oleta Jean-Missick (Member); Bridgette Newman (Secretary). Members will be appointed to the Committee for the period 1 February 2016 to 31 March 2019.
Children (Care and Protection) Advisory Committee: Tiffany Thomas-Browne (Chairman); Betty Ann Been (Member); Desiree Adams (Member); Pastor Alces Dor (Member); Pastor Wade Coleby (Member); Bishop Andrew Stone (Member). Members will be appointed to the Committee for the period 1 February 2016 to 31 March 2017.
Prison Categorisation Board: George Worrell (Chairman); Superintendent of Prison (Member); Lorna James (Member); Pamela Joseph (Member). Members will be appointed to the Board for the period 1 February 2016 to 31 March 2018;
· Gave approval for the Department of Agriculture to commence public consultation on the draft Agriculture Policy with a view to updating the policy in the light of feedback for further review and consideration by Cabinet;
· Gave approval for the Ministry of Health to commence public consultation on the draft National Pharmaceutical Policy (NPP). The draft NPP has been prepared and endorsed by the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services and supported by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO);
· Gave approval for the Ministry of Health to commence public consultation on the draft National Health Sector Strategic Plan 2016-2020 (NHSSP). The draft NHSSPP has been prepared and endorsed by the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services with technical advice and support from the Belize Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO);
· Approved the draft Primary Healthcare Renewal Strategy (PHCRS) for wider stakeholder review and consultation;
· Gave approval for the Ministry of Health to commence public consultation on the draft Non-Communicable Disease Plan;
· Received an up-date on the management of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government and Inter Health Canada (IHC) and discussed steps to address issues related to the contract;
· Approved a request by Inter Health Canada (IHC) to recruit one full-time registrar level Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and one full-time midwife for a two year period for the Maternity Services at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre during which time TCIG will set conditions and monitor performance and review with IHC measures to improve operational efficiency, subject to the Accounting Officer confirming funds are available to finance this;
· Approved the following appointments: the District Commissioners for Middle Caicos, North Caicos and Salt Cay as Registrars of Marriage, Justice of the Peace and Notaries Public on their respective Islands; Pastor Evan Williams as Justice of the Peace and Notary on Middle Caicos; and Rev Father Tellison Glover as Marriage Officer for TCI.
ST. LUCIA'S KAROLIN TROUBETZKOY ELECTED CHTA PRESIDENT THROUGH JUNE 2018
The Board of Directors of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) officially ratified Karolin Troubetzkoy to take office immediately as President of the Association in advance of her term which would have begun in June 2016. She will serve as CHTA President through June 2018.
Troubetzkoy was previously voted President-Elect in June 2015 but assumed the role of Acting CHTA President in November 2015 when Emil Lee, Immediate Past President of CHTA, stepped down to accept the position of Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs for the country of St. Maarten. Past President Richard Doumeng, the current Chairman of CHTA, will continue in this position through June 2016.
"In my role as President, I look forward to further expanding on our marketing, advocacy, sustainability, educational and culinary efforts. Going forward, we will seek even closer collaboration with public sector stakeholders. Our mutual aim must be to further elevate the quality and appeal of the Caribbean as the world's most desired tourism destination. There is much to be done and I am thankful to have the support of past presidents, national hotel and tourism association executives, dedicated members and partners and, especially, the CHTA team under the stellar leadership of CEO Frank Comito," said Troubetzkoy.
Troubetzkoy has served as President of the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) since 2010 where she has been instrumental in the successful implementation of a hotel booking engine for the association as well as the launch of a Saint Lucia Tourism Enhancement Fund. She oversaw the development of a broad social media platform for the SLHTA as well as the launch of several websites.
She has served as a Director of the Saint Lucia Tourist Board for several years and has been an active member of the Destination Marketing Committee for the past 20 years.
Troubetzkoy is the Chairperson of CHTA's Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) and previously served as Chairperson of the CHTA Advocacy Committee from 2012-14. She is also a Board member of the Caribbean Tourism Development Company (CTDC).
Troubetzkoy has successfully spearheaded the marketing and day-to-day operations of the award-winning Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain resorts for more than 30 years.
Troubetzkoy is a past recipient of CHTA's Caribbean Hotelier of the Year Award (2012), St. Lucia Hotelier of the Year Award (2006) and Crystal Award for services to the hotel industry from the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association.
She holds a degree in business administration with majors in both tourism marketing and hotel and restaurant management from the University of Applied Sciences in Munich, Germany.
GOVERNOR VISITS BRITISH WEST INDIES COLLEGIATE
The Governor, Peter Beckingham, visited British West Indies Collegiate this week, and met Achsah Wildish, who on 21 January was told that she had been named “Top Student of the World” by the University of Cambridge International Examination Board for her AS performance in mathematics. The Governor issued the following statement at a special ceremony at the school on 21 January:
“Big congratulations to Achsah on this fantastic honour. To be named as the Top Student in the World by a University of Cambridge Examination Board is a huge achievement.
“I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet Achsah this week, and I would like to repeat publicly my best wishes to her for a successful transition to a British university. This Award should stand you in great stead!
“Congratulations also to Achsah’s teachers, especially of mathematics. You have brought great credit to British West Indies Collegiate, and Turks and Caicos Islands, with this success.
“Finally, my thanks and best wishes to all the pupils and staff of Collegiate. I enjoyed my visit immensely, and got the sense, albeit from a just a short time, that the school is happy and productive place, with a great mix of cheerful and motivated pupils. It was a pleasure to meet some of you, and I look forward to hearing of many other successes over the next year.”
TURKS AND CAICOS POST CABINET MEETING STATEMENT
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the 1st meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, 13 January 2016, at the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales.
All Ministers were present.
At this meeting Cabinet advised His Excellency the Governor to:
· Agree to abolish the fees for the issue of a TCI Status Card for first-time applicants but to retain fees for the replacement of lost or stolen cards;
· Give approval for the Tax Information (Exchange and Mutual Administrative Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2016 to be tabled at the next House of Assembly meeting in January to bring into effect the Automatic Exchange of Tax Information required by the OECD Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and the UK and USA Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA);
· Approve the appointment of the following members of the Electricity Board as set out in the Electricity (Amendment) Ordinance 2015 for a term commencing 15 January - 31 March 2017 – Mr Oswaldo Ariza (Chairman); the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure Housing and Planning; the Director of Planning; the Energy and Utilities Commissioner; Mr Emmanuel Gardiner (TCI Electrical Contractors Association); Mr Samuel Williams (TCI Electrical Contractors Association); and Mr Menelik Astwood (TCI Community College);
· Grant approval, subject to meeting certain conditions, for a request from Ambergris Cay Services Ltd for three licences for three years for dredging at Big Ambergris Cay to excavate a swimming area off Monck Beach and dredge sand from a nearby location to replenish and expand the beach; to dredge saltflats/salina to create a clean body of water; and to carry out maintenance dredging of the entrance channel to the marina. Cabinet also agreed to waive royalty payments on excavated materials where appropriate;
· Approve the negotiation for the lease of the Local Village property adjacent to the White Sands facilities on Grand Turk (parcels 10506/33 and 34) to enable the beautification of the area and provide additional market opportunities for local vendors.
In addition, at this Cabinet meeting TCIG signed a loan agreement with RBC to facilitate the refinancing of the $170 million loan bond for which Cabinet approved a remission of Stamp Duty in this respect.