Joaquin dumps rain in TCI
A day of solid rain has brought flooding to low-lying areas as a surprising Tropical Storm that upgraded to a hurricane, began dumping rain over the Turks & Caicos Islands while gradually moving towards the Bahamas chain.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Joaquin packing maximum sustained winds near 85 miles per hour with higher gusts, and which has been heading to the southwest, has been generating some high surf and battering waves.
Michael Stubbs, senior forecaster at the Met Office in Nassau, told RTC News that much of this weather is associated with the Lunar Eclipse that the Turks and Caicos and the rest of the world witnessed last Sunday – conditions that are likely to last through Friday.
A release from Mr. Derek Been of the Ports Authority of the Turks and Caicos Islands, confirmed to RTC News this afternoon that a small Haitian Trading Vessel - the M/V Remembrance – that was moored at South Dock in Grand Turk, was completely destroyed by high waves and winds associated with Tropical Storm Joaquim during the early hours of this morning (Wednesday September 30, 2015).
“We are most thankful that there were no casualties or life threatening injuries to the crew of the vessel. Clean up efforts commenced this morning and is ongoing,” Been said.
Meanwhile, the department of Meteorology in Nassau Bahamas in its alert #6 at 6pm today, said Joaquin has strengthened some more as it moves toward the central Bahamas...
DIGICEL FIRST OPERATOR TO IMPLEMENT AD CONTROL TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND HELP DRIVE BROADBAND ACCESS
Digicel, a leading provider of communications and entertainment services to customers in the Caribbean and South Pacific, announced today that it is deploying ad control technology at the network level on its networks across the globe to ensure a better experience for customers and to encourage the likes of Google, Facebook and Yahoo to help connect the 4.2 billion unconnected people across the globe. Ad control technology benefits both consumers and network operators alike. With ads using up as much as 10% of a customers’ data plan allowance, this move will allow customers to browse the mobile web and apps without interruption from unwanted advertising messages.
Starting in Jamaica and rolling out to its other markets in the Caribbean and South Pacific in the coming months, Digicel will work with Israeli start-up, Shine Technologies, to be the first operator worldwide to deploy Shine’s mobile ad control technology at the network level. Shine’s technology blocks display and video ads inserted by ad networks in both mobile browsers and apps.
For network operators meanwhile, for whom bandwidth is one of the most costly considerations, Digicel is looking to companies like Google, Yahoo and Facebook to enter into revenue sharing agreements with it so that this money in turn can be reinvested in network deployment and ultimately the bridging of the digital divide. Currently, these companies do not pay to make use of the network and the services they provide on it suck up bandwidth to make money for themselves through advertising while putting no money in.
Broadband has proven to be transformative in both developed and developing countries alike promising to improve people’s lives and livelihoods and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. In line with this, network operators across the world are investing billions in deploying state-of-the-art networks. Latest figures from the ITU state that 43% of the global population now has some form of regular access to the internet, but there are still some 4.2 billion people who do not. And in the least developed countries, this number drops to a very low one in ten people who have access.
Denis O’Brien, Chairman of Digicel Group, explains; “This is about giving customers the best experience and about getting access to broadband to the unconnected and allowing them to benefit from the opportunities it affords. Companies like Google, Yahoo and Facebook talk a great game and take a lot of credit when it comes to pushing the idea of broadband for all – but they put no money in. Instead they unashamedly trade off the efforts and investments of network operators like Digicel to make money for themselves. That’s unacceptable, and we as a network operator, are taking a stand against them to force them to put their hands in their pockets and play a real role in improving the opportunities for economic empowerment for the global population.”
Ron Porat, CEO at Shine, explains; “Shine is dedicated to putting a stop to the abusive behavior of mobile advertising toward the network operator and the consumer. As the first operator worldwide to deploy our technology at the network level, Digicel is making a clear call for an improved customer experience. We believe it is now time for everyone in the digital advertising ecosystem to look to the future and start having a conversation about how better and sustainable digital advertising can be created to foster stronger, mutually beneficial relationships that are based on transparency and trust.”
'Week of the Young Child to be observed
The Ministry and Department of Education join with the many Early Childhood Centers and Schools across the Turks and Caicos Islands in recognition of the 'Week of the Young Child".
The week commences October 5-9, 2015 under the theme "Celebrating Our Youngest Learners: - Grow a Reader and Watch them Bloom".
The early childhood years serve as an essential foundation for subsequent literacy development, as it plays a key role in enabling early learning experiences that are linked to children becoming proficient in reading later on in life.
Reading is fundamental as it engages all subject areas, equipping children with the necessary developmental skills that will allow them to communicate with others expressing their thoughts, feelings and ideas. It broadens their sensitivity towards letter sounds and helps them to acquire greater phonological awareness and phonics. Reading also empowers children to grasp new concepts, builds their vocabulary and heightens their understanding in comprehension.
It is with this in mind that the Department of Education urges all early childhood schools and centers to position their early literacy programmes to the forefront. Reading activities must be visible with print rich environments and various types of interesting books, materials and resources that support and encourage reading. It must involve the home, school and the community and be promoted by its parents, teachers and children.
In keeping with this, a number of activities have been planned for schools and centers to become involved. Some of the activities include Reading Aloud to young children, Reading with a Buddy and looking at books independently. These activities will help to stimulate language and cognitive skills which will build upon a child's motivation, curiosity and memory.
Day 1 Monday, October 5th
Celebrate Your Students' Favourite Book
• Promote the use of literacy centers to enhance reading.
• Teachers to create a Literacy Center using their students' favourite book.
• Plan creative activities to teach lessons based on the story.
Day 2 Tuesday, October 6th
Celebrate Digital Learning Day
• Share and celebrate effective teaching and innovative learning strategies in the use of digital and instructional technology.
Day 3 Wednesday, October 7th
Celebrate Get Caught Reading Day
• Inspire children and adults to make it a habit to take time to read a little each day.
• Capture and share photos of family, friends, students and colleagues reading on social media
Day 4 Thursday, October 8th
Buddy Reading Day
• To encourage older students to pair up to read for younger ones Family members to identify a specific time to read for children on a daily bases.
• Allow children to choose their favourite book to read
Day 5 Friday, October 9th
Read Aloud Day
• Teachers share and model tips for reading aloud to children such as always reading the title and author, previewing the book, varying pitch and speed, and discussing the book.
• Invite parents /well-wishers to read to students
• Encourage parents/community members to donate books
"Drop everything and Read" - Everyone is encouraged to drop everything and read at 1pm each day for ten minutes during the week. Reading is fun across the TCI
Everyone across the TCI is encouraged to instill the love for books in young children from a very tender age by reading to them.
DIGICEL WINS 2015 ETHICALCORP RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS AWARD FOR ITS ROLE IN THE RESTORATION OF HAITI’S EDUCATION SYSTEM
Digicel, a leading provider of communications and entertainment services to customers in the Caribbean and South Pacific, has won a 2015 Ethical-corp Responsible Business Award for its efforts to help rebuild the education system in Haiti following the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake.
The Ethical-corp Responsible Business Awards recognise companies that adopt and promote responsible business practices throughout their organisation, improving the lives of their customers and the communities in which they operate. Digicel was selected as winner in the “Most Effective International Community Investment” category from a shortlist of eight global companies including Barclays, the Hershey Company, Primark, UPS and Vester-gard at an awards ceremony at the Cumberland Hotel in London on September 25th.
Haiti’s education system was on the verge of collapse as a result of the 2010 earthquake, which destroyed 90 percent of the country’s infrastructure. Through the Digicel Foundation, Digicel kick-started reconstruction efforts by increasing the number of schools it committed to build in local communities from 20 to 50. Digicel further expanded its support by building more permanent, earthquake-resistant buildings, funding teacher training courses and creating jobs throughout local communities. To date, the Digicel Foundation has invested more than US$39 million in its school-building project, completing 150 schools and creating more than 10,500 construction jobs and making it the single largest school builder in the Caribbean.
Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves, said; “Supporting our communities and the needy across the world is a core part of Digicel’s ethos of giving back and helping the less fortunate. It was an easy decision for Digicel to help those who were severely affected by the 2010 earthquake in Haiti – especially the children who were at a significant disadvantage due to the widespread destruction of schools across the country,” said Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves.
“Winning this award is a testament to the hard work and sacrifices made by our colleagues in Digicel Haiti and the work of the Digicel Foundation. We are happy that these students now have comfortable surroundings in which to learn and grow,” Delves added.
Today, more than 50,000 students in Haiti attend schools built by the Digicel Foundation. Digicel continues to nurture education throughout Haiti with an additional investment of US$12 million to fund critical teacher training and development programmes, all of which help to ensure Haiti’s young people enjoy the bright future they deserve.
Digicel Group is a leading global communications provider with operations in 33 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific. After more than 14 years of operation, total investment to date stands at over US$5 billion worldwide. The company is renowned for delivering best value, best service and best network.
The company, which bills itself the bigger, better network, is the lead sponsor of Caribbean, Central American and Pacific sports teams, including the Special Olympics teams throughout these regions. Digicel sponsors the West Indies cricket team and is also the title sponsor of the Caribbean Premier League. In the Pacific, Digicel is the proud sponsor of several national rugby teams and also sponsors the Vanuatu cricket team.
Digicel also runs a host of community-based initiatives across its markets and has set up Digicel Foundations in Haiti, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago which focus on educational, cultural and social development programmes.
Professional Accountants Annual Conference held at Blue Haven
The Turks and Caicos Islands Society of Professional Accountants in collaboration with the Bankers Association of the Turks and Caicos and the Turks and Caicos Islands Government hosted the first Turks and Caicos Professional Accountants Annual Conference at Blue Haven on Tuesday morning.
Several small business owners, bankers and accountants were at the conference where Tuesday’s topics centered on plans by the TCI government to support and develop small businesses, the role of accountants in small business, plans by TCIG for development of small business and the products available in the local banking sector.
President of TCISPA and Partner HLB TCI Ltd Drexwell Seymour, President of TCISPA and Partner HLB TCI Ltd., was one of the keynote speakers at that conference.
Former Destiny’s Child Member Denies Rumors of Tell-All Book About Beyonce
Former Destiny’s Child member Farrah Franklin has denied reports of releasing a tell-all book about Beyoncé, in which she was rumored to details Bey's alleged nose jobs, breast implant and false virginity claims.
Franklin, who just released a new single called "Magic and Makeup," has squashed the rumor by posted a statement from her management via Instagram.
"Normally we would not address these bogus headlines, however today we will -- Our client Farrah Franklin has worked hard for a very long time to create her latest hit single 'Magic and Makeup.' We do not need the BS or lies from a gossip site to take away the message of empowerment, self love and spreading love," it reads.
Her management adds that the signer does not "need an urban blogger creating a buzz for themselves; from our success with this hit single, while we are continuing to build Farrah Franklin’s brand!! Nor do we need their pathetic attempts and lies to promote her talents or create drama because they chose to make a living from hate and belittling others!"
Franklin was a part of the group for six months before being dismissed back in 2000.
Source-ABC
700,000 cars have 'cheat' emissions software according to SEAT
Seat has said about 700,000 of its cars are fitted with the software that allowed parent company Volkswagen to cheat US emissions tests.
A spokesman said they are currently trying to work out how many were sold in each national market.
In Spain slightly over 3,000 new cars are affected but showrooms have been told to put them aside.
VW says it is working out how to refit the software in the 11m diesel engines involved in the emission's scandal.
Broken down brand-by-brand they are:
-VW - 5m
-Audi - 2.1m
-Skoda - 1.2m
-Seat - 700,000
-Vans - 1.8m
VW said it would inform customers "in the next few weeks and months" about how refits would take place.
Seat also said it planned to contact owners so their cars can undergo tests.
It will also set up a search engine on its website to allow customers to find out if their vehicles are affected.
The Spanish carmaker said it had temporarily suspended the sale and delivery of all new vehicles with the EA 189 engines which contain the software.
The scandal is continuing to hit VW's share price. On Tuesday it fell another 1.5% during morning trade in Frankfurt. The company has lost 35% of its market value since last Monday.
A survey of 62 institutional investors by the investment banking advisory firm Evercore, showed 66% of them would not invest in VW for 6 months or until it clarified what costs, fines, and legal proceedings it faced.
The effects are also spilling over into the local economy around VW's headquarters in Wolfsburg. The city is expecting a fall in business tax revenue from VW and the mayor has announced a budget freeze and hiring ban on public sector workers.
The scandal was revealed after the US Environmental Protection Agency found that some VW diesel cars were fitted with devices that could detect when the engine was being tested, and could change the car's performance to improve results.
The German company has apologised for breaching consumers' trust, and on Friday announced that Matthias Mueller was replacing Martin Winterkorn as chief executive. Mr Mueller promised a "relentless" investigation to uncover what went wrong.
He said the group was "facing the severest test in its history."
German prosecutors announced on Monday that it was conducting a criminal investigation of Volkswagen's former chief executive.
Source-BBC
PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT TUESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2015
GENERAL SITUATION: THE BAHAMAS IS LYING BETWEEN TROPICAL STORM JOAQUIN TO THE EAST AND A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IN THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO WHILE JOAQUIN PROVIDE SOME TROPICAL MOISTURE OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: TIDAL FLOODING AROUND HIGH TIDE CYCLES CONTINUES IN COMBINATION WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS IN LOW LYING AREAS.
THE TCI, NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH THE CHANCE OF A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. PARTLY CLOUDY WITH WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: WEST TO NORTHWESTAT 10 TO 15 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET BUT HIGHER IN NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS OVER THE OCEAN.
SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY AND WARM WITH A WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: WEST TO NORTHWEST AT 10 KNOTS OR LESS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 3 FEET OR LESS BUT HIGHER IN NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS OVER THE OCEAN.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE: 91°F 33°C
OVERNITE LOW TEMPERATURE: 75°F 24°C
SUNSET: 6:59PM
SUNRISE: 7:01AM (WED)
MOONRISE: 8:27PM
MOONSET: 9:37AM WED
LOW TIDE: 3:34PM 3:48AM WED
HIGH TIDE: 9:34PM 10:04AM WED
WEATHER OUTLOOK: TROPICAL STORM JOAQUIN IS EXPECTED TO MOVE WESTWARD TODAY THEN BEGIN TO TURN WEST NORTHWEST TONIGHT SPREADING TROPICAL MOISTURE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH TOMORROW.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: SEE THE LATEST NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM JOAQUIN. A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE LOCATED OVER THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO CONTINUES TO PRODUCE DISORGANIZED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO AND PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES WITH A LOW CHANCE FORMATION THROUGH THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.
A LARGE AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER OVER THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS IS ASSOCIATED WITH A FRONTAL TROUGH AND THE REMNANTS OF IDA. SOME SLOW DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE LATER THIS WEEK WITH A LOW CHANCE OF FORMATION THROUGH THE NEXT 48 HOURS AND MEDIUM CHANCE THROUGH THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.
PREMIER EWING MOVES TO ESTABLISH CRIME FIGHTING UNIT
The Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Dr. The Hon. Rufus W. Ewing, on Monday expressed grave concern for the rising level of crime in the country, and particularly for that of serious and fatal nature. This came on receiving news of yet another gun related murder which ironically occurred after a successful weekend of activities which sought to begin the national conversation gun-related crime and focused on educating young people and adults to "break the silence and stop the violence".
In recent months the Premier has continuously registered his dissatisfaction with the level of crime fighting and solved cases with the Commissioner of Police and the Governor, who holds responsibility for national security, and has charged them to step up their efforts to prevent, detect and solve crimes in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Last week, the Premier and his Cabinet approved funding in a supplementary budget for the establishment of a Serious Crimes Investigation Unit that would assist in the investigation and apprehension of those persons responsible for the many murder cases that remain unsolved.
In the meantime, the Premier continues to push for immediate action and during a recent meeting with the Governor, the Premier requested and received commitment from His Excellency and the Commissioner of Police for the immediate recruitment of expert investigators from the UK and the Caribbean region to provide the necessary skills that are required to solve these crimes and also transfer knowledge to local police officers.
The Premier and the Governor have also agreed to the establishment of a National Security Council which will be co-chaired by the Governor and the Premier and will consist of lead persons from the various law enforcement agencies. The role of the Security Council would be intelligence gathering and sharing and the development and coordination of crime fighting strategies.
These initiatives will complement and enhance the ongoing efforts to fight crime and illegal immigration in the islands.
On the matter of crime the Premier commented, "The senseless loss of life and especially that of young people is unsettling and vexatious and one can only imagine the pain that their families must be experiencing. I wish to express my deepest condolences to those families who have lost love ones to violence and I promise you that my Government will put the financial resources behind crime fighting and the development of intervention programs that will reduce interpersonal and gang related violence in our communities."
GM's new diesel pickups first to get extra scrutiny
General Motors is the first automaker to feel the backlash from the Volkswagen diesel emissions cheating scandal.
GM has been told by the EPA and the California Air Resources Board that the new diesel-powered versions of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups will not be certified until they have been tested on the road as well as in the lab.
The sales launch of the trucks, which is scheduled for the fourth quarter, could be delayed slightly by the additional testing, GM says.
“The EPA and CARB told us they are going to do on-road testing,” Scott Yackley, Chevrolet Trucks assistant chief engineer, said on the sidelines of a media event here for the diesel-powered Colorado.
Last week -- in the wake of VW's violation of diesel emissions rules -- the EPA said it would begin more stringent testing to ensure that vehicles meet emissions in the lab and on the road. It is not clear if the EPA road tests will be done with CARB or separately.
The four-cylinder diesel engine GM slated for the Colorado and Canyon has been used in global markets without some of the emissions equipment required for U.S. sales. That includes the Selective Catalytic Reduction system that periodically sprays urea fluid into the exhaust system.
Yackley said GM engineers have conducted extensive lab and road tests and are confident that the trucks will pass the additional testing.
“Part of our development process is on-road and off-road [laboratory] testing,” he said.
VW, in violation of environmental rules, installed software that switched on the emissions system when certain diesel-powered vehicles were being tested in the lab. On the road, a vehicle's computer switched off the emissions system, causing as much as 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxide.
Source-Automotive News