NEW CHAIRMAN AND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN FOR NHIP
With the Vision of ensuring that the National Health Insurance Plan is feasible and workable in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Executive Drexwell Seymour has accepted the appointment of Chairman of National Health Insurance Board.
The appointment made by the Minister of Finance is for three years.
Mr.Seymour General Manager of LIME will be joined by Deputy Chairman Mr.Clayton Been.
The National Health Insurance Plan was established in 2009 in the Turks and Caicos Islands with its goal to facilitate the provision of accessible, affordable and quality health care services to all its beneficiaries as specified in the ordinance.
Mr. Seymour said his vision is to ensure that the National Health Insurance Plan is feasible and workable for its clients.
Here’s Damian Wilson with more.
“Mr. Seymour said he does not want to see any increase in rates, but rather find ways and means to reduce the health care expenditure.
Since the construction of the 2 hospitals and the implementation of NHIB, the country has seen a significant decrease in overseas treatment abroad.
“I would like to continue to work with the Board to ensure we can further reduce this cost by utilizing the regional providers and to encourage more treatment locally,” Mr. Seymour added.
The newly appointed chairman said he wants to ensure that the vision of the TCIG government is implemented; that vision he said,
includes the plan of extending benefits to persons who are unemployed, but registered at the Labor Office.
“The NHIP is a great plan for the TCI but it is important that we promote and increase the awareness of this Plan.
The public will be more informed and much focus will be on Educating the public on the services and benefits provided. “There are a number of success stories that need to be made public and much misunderstanding about NHIP.
One which is NHIP and Inter-Health Canada are separate entities, Mr. Seymour said.”
He said there are individuals who include the cost of InterHealth Canada as a cost of NHIP; this he said is totally misleading. A certified public accountant Mr. Seymour believes that his appointment by the Minister was based on his back ground in accounting. Mr. Seymour worked at both KPMG and Price Waterhouse, locally and in Canada. He has also served on other boards such as TCI Invest and National Insurance Board.
Mr. Seymour has as his Deputy former manager of Inward Investment with TCInvest, Mr. Clayton Been.
Mr. Been is a senior executive with over two and half decades of corporate and operational management experience in economic development and corporate restructuring. He is an Innovative leader and motivator with sound convictions, values, morals and business ethics.
Other members of the NHIP Board are Mr. Wilbur Caley who was acting chairman from the time the first chairman Mr. John Smith resigned ; Dr.Sam Slattery, Madeline Mills, Beverly Williams, the three are original board members. Also on the Board are Representatives from InterHealth Canada and the National Insurance Board. Ex officio members include the Permanent Secretaries of Health and Finance; and the Chief Medical Officer.
This is Damian Wilson for RTC News.
Stomach Bug affects Grand Turk
The stomach Virus that has made many people ill in Grand Turk has still not been specifically identified.
The stomach virus that has made many people ill over the past two weeks in Grand Turk, has still not been specifically identified according to the Premier and Minister responsible for health, the Honourable Dr. Rufus Ewing this afternoon. But, he says that laboratory tests are still continuing to try to identify the exact type of virus it is.
It is still not known whether the virus originated from the water supply at MargaritaVille at the Grand Turk Cruise Center, or whether it arrived onboard one of the cruise ships that came to Grand Turk earlier this month.
Dr. Ewing said that of this moment there is only one person on Grand Turk suffering seriously from the diarrhea and sickness bug.
Premier Ewing on Hague
Premier the Honorable Dr. Rufus Ewing hit back in the Assembly Thursday at critical comments made about him by Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, William Hague in a letter made public on Wednesday.
Mr. Hague accused the Premier of misleading both the TCI and Caribbean leaders at the CARICOM Conference last month about Britain’s policy and intentions in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Premier told the House it never ceases to amaze him how the people of the TCI were constantly reminded about the allegations of corruption by the last PNP Administration and reminded at specific and opportune times.
Here’s Dale LeVack with more.
The Premier cited two examples - the press release by the Governor one day before the November General elections and secondly the press statement by the Secretary of State one day before the General Elections, reminding the people of this country about the corruption of the past PNP Administration.
On Wednesday another expected, (but coincidental in its timing) letter by the Secretary of State, reminded the people that the previous PNP Government left behind a chaotic situation, including (through incompetence, abuse of power and corruption), rapidly deteriorating public
finances. He said there were many people in the TCI who were currently being accused of engaging in corruption. Despite the many allegations, he said they should be considered innocent until proven guilty by the courts.
Premier Ewing went on to say that any system in which high officials of Government, such as the Secretary of State and the Governor could prejudice the minds of Judges as to one’s guilt or innocence, is a potentially unfair system. Any system where people who ought to be politically neutral, intentionally or strategically make statements as facts that might influence the judiciary or electorate, is indeed corrupt.
He was using the power of his office to respond to the Secretary of State so as to expose the corruption that was taking place in the name of Good Governance.
This is Dale LeVack for RTC News.
The Ministry of Border Control and Labour confirmed that 16 Cuban detainees have absconded
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The Ministry of Border Control and Labour confirmed tonight that 16 Cuban migrants who were caught illegally entering the TCI on October 2nd last year - and released by a judge on bail - have absconded.
Apparently, they travelled to Miami over the past weekend.
The Ministry says details surrounding their escape from Providenciales are sketchy and are being investigated by the Police, Immigration and Customs Departments and other relevant agencies.
Here’s Chris Jarrett with more.
“Due to the sensitive nature of this incident, TCIG says it must ensure that the outcome of this investigation is not jeopardized. The Ministry has pledged, however, that the public will be kept informed.
Unclassified information that has not yet been reported will be released when it becomes available.
TCIG says border agencies will continue to protect the country’s borders.
It is asking for patience, understanding and cooperation from the public.
Individuals who have information and by so doing bring the investigation to a speedy conclusion, are encouraged to contact the Police or the Immigration Department.
The Ministry has told RTC that five Cuban nationals who did not seek release through the court remain in detention at the Five Cays Detention Center and are awaiting feedback from their asylum application.”
This is Chris Jarrett reporting for RTC News.
Cabinet wants to broaden accommodation tax to other services
The Cabinet has been looking closely at raising more money this year through taxation following the deferment of Value Added Tax -and has started by targeting the housing, hotel and tourism sector.
His Excellency Governor Ric Todd chaired Wednesday’s meeting held at the NJS Francis Building on Grand Turk where the members discussed proposed changes to taxation legislation. These involve amendments on stamp duty rates and an increase in accommodation tax from 11% to 12%.
The Cabinet also wants to broaden accommodation tax to other services and plug a loophole in the Hotel and Restaurant Taxation Ordinance on the definition of premises for board and lodging. The Cabinet is drafting legislation for new stamp duty rates and hiking accommodation tax to 12
per cent to become law on July 1st this year.
Cabinet made it clear it requires key elements of the draft Financial Strategy and Policy Statement to be completed and agreed that further work should be done as quickly as possible to finalize the FSPS.
Given the approaching end of the Financial Year, Cabinet agreed to an additional meeting next week Wednesday, 20th March.
Here’s Damian Wilson with details of the rest of the Cabinet business.
The Cabinet agreed to put to the House of Assembly a minor technical change in terms used in the legislation relating to money laundering. It will also support the Governor in approving inter-related legislation on companies and the proceeds of crime and regulations concerning Anti Money Laundering - and Prevention of Terrorist Funding,
non-profit organizations and companies fees. Cabinet also gave the go-ahead to approve two contracts on fencing and well drilling for the building of Grand Turk’s a new reverse osmosis plant on Grand Turk. The Cabinet discussed a paper on the Medium Term Outlook of the Port Authority. It underlined the role of ports in the development of TCI; looked to the new Port Authority Board to play a key role in this; and agreed the importance of drawing up a strategic plan for the development of ports on TCI. Cabinet further agreed to recommend to the Governor that he appoint Ms Denika Been as Secretary of the Port Authority Board. The Cabinet confirmed its commitment to the creation of a strong and effective Exchange of Information Unit in the Ministry of Finance and agreed that the appropriate level of resources for the Unit would be agreed in the budget round.
This is Damian Wilson for RTC News.
Premier’s World Kidney Day Message 2013
Leading doctors and campaigners all across the world today called for action to address acute kidney injury (AKI), as new estimates show that death rates from AKI, are over 100 times than those caused by MRSA, one of the best known super bugs.
Figures compiled by the Kidney Alliance for World Kidney Day, estimate that 2011/12, death rates from AKI were between 62,000 and 210,000 compared to MRSA, which caused 364 deaths in 2011, a number which had fallen by a quarter from the previous year.
The Premier and Minister of Health and Human Services Honourable Dr. Rufus Ewing, this morning brought greetings on the occasion of World Kidney Day 2013 under the theme: Acute Kidney Injury - “Stop Kidney Attack!”
Gaming industry under threat
The gaming industry of the Turks and Caicos Islands is under severe threat. That revelation was made by the Finance Minister Hon C. Washington Missick in response to a question at Thursday’s sitting of the House of Assembly meeting on Government’s policy on gaming licenses regarding casinos attached to a hotel; stand-alone casinos and slot parlors.
Hon. Missick said there are a lot of issues, and the ‘helter-skelter’ way that gaming is taking place in the TCI, is not in the best interest of this country. Ultimately he said a lot of work will have to be done to regularize the industry.
Tourist Board has announced 21st annual kite flying competition for Easter Weekend
The Tourist Board has announced that the 21st annual kite flying competition will be held during Easter Weekend on Providenciales, Grand Turk, North Caicos and South Caicos. On North Caicos, the event will be held at Horse Stable Beach on Saturday, March 30th at 10:00am.
On April 1st, it will take place at the Kid’s Park on Providenciales; at the Local Village on Grand Turk and Regatta Village on South Caicos. All kite flying events will start at 10:00am.
A day of family fun is planned with activities to include an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids, bouncing castles, super slides, Island music and tasty local dishes and drinks on sale.
Prizes and trophies will also be awarded for the largest kite, most artistic kite and best traditional kite on each Island.
A kite making workshop will also be presented in conjunction with the National Trust.
For an application or additional information please contact the Tourist Board offices at (649) 946-2321 or (649) 946-4970 or visit the website at www.turksandcaicostourism.com
23 Killed in Bus Accident in Pakistan
A Pakistani official says at least 23 of the country's soldiers were killed in a bus accident in northern Pakistan.
The official says the soldiers were traveling on the bus Saturday when it slid off a road and into a ravine in a mountainous region. Several other people were on board the bus at the time.
The military says the soldiers were on leave going from the Swat Valley to the city of Gilgit.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Egypt Deports 7 Palestinians to Gaza
Egyptian media say seven Palestinians deported by Egyptian authorities have arrived in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinians were detained a few days ago at an airport in Cairo for security reasons, after arriving on a flight from Syria.
After an investigation showed no illegal activity, authorities released the Palestinians and began extradition procedures.
In recent weeks, Egyptian authorities have been destroying smuggling tunnels along the Egypt-Gaza border. The tunnels are used to bring fuel, food and construction materials into the territory, and to sneak in weapons and militants.
The Gaza Strip is largely under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade.