World Hepatitis Day 2018
World Hepatitis Day 2018 will be observed on July 28th 2018. This year's theme is "Test. Treat. Hepatitis". World hepatitis day is used as a means of raising awareness of this global public health threat. Viral hepatitis can cause inflammation of the liver and chronic hepatitis B and C can lead to cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Chronic hepatitis can remain asymptomatic for many years. Hepatitis is responsible for a million of deaths worldwide annually. Chronic hepatitis B and C are responsible for 60% of liver cancers. A vaccine is available for hepatitis B and treatment is available for hepatitis B and C.
Why is this important?
- Most people living with Hepatitis do not know that they are infected.
- Early testing for Hepatitis helps to prevent liver disease and cancer.
- Less than 15% of people in Latin American and the Caribbean with Hepatitis have been diagnosed.
- Less than 2% of people in Latin American and the Caribbean with Hepatitis are receiving treatment.
- The disease is preventable through vaccination.
- More than 95% of people with Hepatitis can be cured with treatment.
How is Hepatitis spread?
The Hepatitis virus is spread through bodily fluids of an infected person including blood, semen, sweat, vaginal secretions, menstrual blood, and breast milk.
Risky behaviours include:
- Not getting tested for Hepatitis.
- Mother-to-child transmission from an untreated infected mother.
- Having unprotected sex.
- Sharing used needles for example in tattooing and drug use.
- Heavy alcohol use.
Who Is at risk of contracting Hepatitis?
- Untested mothers giving birth.
- People having unprotected sexual contact with a Hepatitis infected person.
- People getting tattoos using shared or unsterilized needles.
- Healthcare workers.
- Heavy alcohol drinkers.
What should you do?
- Get tested for Hepatitis.
- If you are infected with Hepatitis, get treated.
- Get cured for Hepatitis.
BAHAMAS AND TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS PUBLIC FORECAST 26TH JULY, 2018
FORECAST FOR THE BAHAMAS FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
THURSDAY 26TH JULY 2018
GENERAL SITUATION: A TROUGH OVER THE AREA WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A WET WEATHER PATTERN OVER THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHILE WINDS WILL INCREASE OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN ISLANDS DUE TO A BUILDING HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BOATERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT ACTIVITY. BEACHGOERS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS INCLUDING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE EASTERN COASTS.
SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS INCLUDING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY, HOT AND HUMID WITH FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY AND BREEZY TONIGHT WITH THE CHANCE OF ISOLATED SHOWERS.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS INCREASING EASTERLY AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS LATE TONIGHT.
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET BUILDING 5 TO 8 FEET LATE TONIGHT.
NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS
WEATHER: MOSTLY CLOUDY, HOT AND HUMID WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS FALLING LIGHT AND VARIABLE AT TIMES
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE: 91F 33C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE: 79F 26C
HEAT INDEX: 103F 39C
SUNSET: 7:56PM SUNRISE: 6:35AM FRI.
MOONSET: 7:16PM MOONRISE: 6:17AM FRI.
LOW TIDE: 12:41PM
HIGH TIDE: 7:04PM
LOW TIDE: 1:31AM FRI.
HIGH TIDE: 7:18AM FRI.
OUTLOOK FOR TOMORROW: VARIABLE CLOUDINESS AND BREEZY WITH WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.
SOURCE - DDME TCI
MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION COMMENTS ON DUMP FIRE
The alarming rate of landfill fires is a very real problem that affects all of us here in the Turks & Caicos Islands, but more intimately with my constituency of Wheeland, due to proximity.
It demands real and immediate solutions. The health of our residents on this island, the place in which we live and do business, depends on that.
I take this opportunity as the MP for Wheeland to extend my sincerest apologies to residents in the area and any others who were affected, for the inconvenience caused by the fire at the landfill on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. I am again assuring my community that this government is actively exploring a more effective solid waste management program that will alleviate the issues that have long been affecting residents in the area for many years.
In addition to this, we are committed to ensuring that those responsible for the management of waste disposal at the site implement new measures to reduce future occurrences. The process of choosing where and how to build new garbage disposal facilities is inevitably controversial. But the process cannot move forward without bold and decisive leadership from my government who was elected as policy makers and are responsible for protecting the public interest along with the stakeholders in the community.
As your representative and as a member of this government, I am indeed mindful of the obligation to ensure that persons living in close proximity to the waste disposal site are able to enjoy and function in an environment that is safe and hazard-free. Despite the known challenges that are associated with landfills, we will be working with, and encouraging those responsible for the waste disposal site to ensure that there are substantial and effective improvements in the systems at the facility. I want to emphasize that this unpleasant state of affairs at the dump in Providenciales cannot and will not continue under my watch. We in the Turks and Caicos Islands pride ourselves on being a modern society and we simply cannot tolerate or facilitate any system or anything that poses a hazard to our people, their health and well-being.
Our people are literally sick and tired of the less than satisfactory performance and conditions at the landfill. Our people deserve better and they will get it under this Minister and this Government. Let me therefore give residents of Providenciales and Turks and Caicos Islands the assurance that I will definitely be holding the current contractors at the landfill accountable and responsible for ensuring that their management of that site is of the highest possible standard. What is happening now is just not the way it should be.
In light of what our people have had to experience with the landfill over the past many years, it is obvious that it cannot be business as usual and that drastic and significant improvements must be made by those who are under contract and who have an obligation to get it right. Enough is enough, and as a government and a people we must, and we will, receive value for money.
Again, let me assure you that your health and well-being are of utmost importance to me and my government colleagues and I want to give you the reassurance that we will be relentless in our commitment to ensuring that there are significant and effective improvements in the systems that are in place to manage the facility.
Minister Home Affairs Transportation and Communication
UFC star Conor McGregor avoids jail with guilty plea
UFC fighter Conor McGregor has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in a deal with prosecutors to avoid jail time.
McGregor had faced multiple criminal charges stemming from an altercation in April with other fighters.
As part of his deal he is required to undergo anger management treatment. The plea will not affect his US work visa.
In a statement outside the New York City courthouse, the 30-year-old thanked the judge and prosecutors "for allowing me to move forward".
He will also be required to fulfil five days of community service, and in exchange, will be cleared of criminal charges.
McGregor had been facing 12 criminal charges related to the incident at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on 5 April.
In April, McGregor was caught on video throwing a metal dolly into the window of a bus stationed inside the Barclays Center loading dock. The bus was carrying a group of UFC athletes and employees.
Two UFC fighters -- Chiesa, a lightweight, and Borg, a flyweight -- reported suffering minor injuries to authorities and were ultimately pulled from their respective bouts on a scheduled pay-per-view event on April 7.
Republicans launch bid to impeach US deputy attorney general
Republicans have launched a bid to remove the Department of Justice official overseeing the Russia inquiry dogging Donald Trump's presidency.
House of Representatives conservatives have filed articles of impeachment in an effort to oust Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
The articles were introduced by Representatives Mark Meadows and Jim Jordan, who accuse him of stonewalling their requests for information.
Mr Rosenstein denies the accusations.
The articles of impeachment, which were filed on Wednesday evening, criticise Mr Rosenstein for allegedly failing to comply with requests for documents relating to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Impeachment would have to be approved by a majority in the House and backed by two-thirds of the US Senate to convict Mr Rosenstein, which makes the plan a long shot.
Former cricket great Imran Khan claims victory in disputed Pakistan election
Former cricket star Imran Khan has claimed victory in Pakistan's disputed elections, which have been marred by violence and claims of vote-rigging.
The official results from Wednesday's vote have not yet been announced. But leaders of almost every political party except Khan's have alleged ballot-rigging, with some claiming that monitors did not receive final counts or were asked to leave polling stations before tallying was finished.
In a speech on Wednesday afternoon, Khan promised a new method of governance, placing a heavy emphasis on fighting corruption and building Pakistan's economy."Today God has taken me to that level, given me an opportunity of a dream. God has given me that chance to fulfill that dream," he said.
As of Thursday evening, it was still unclear whether Khan's center-right Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would secure enough seats in the National Assembly to win an outright majority. Ahead of any official announcement, the 65-year-old's supporters were already celebrating in the streets of Lahore and Islamabad, dancing and waving flags bearing his image.
A victory by Khan -- who has presented himself as a "change" candidate bent on building a "new Pakistan" -- would be historic.
Bahamian Shanty Towns Raided
Authorities arrested 35 people during a joint law enforcement operation in shantytowns and other areas in New Providence yesterday.
Officers attached to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Department of Immigration and the Royal Bahamas Police Force executed an island-wide sweep targeting “prolific offenders, wanted suspects” and other people believed to be associated with criminal activities.
Kirklyn Neely, who heads the Department of Immigration’s Enforcement Unit, said several people were detained for being in The Bahamas illegally, but he did not provide a figure.
Outside the House of Assembly, Minister of National Security Marvin Dames said he had not received a briefing on the operation, but suggested the public should not be surprised by it.
“This is not the first time that officers would have operated in shantytown areas,” he said.“This is part of our overall crime strategy and we will go wherever we need to go to seek out those persons who are breaking the law and who are disrupting the normal flow of our society.
“You want to be safe don’t you? I want to be.”
The operations came about two weeks ahead of the government’s August 10 deadline for residents whose homes go against the building code to move.
Providenciales Landfills a blaze
Providenciales Solid Waste Disposal Site
The Environmental Health Department (EHD) is an arm of the Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services that is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health. One of the functions of EHD is solid waste management which includes the solid waste disposal sites throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. On Wednesday July 25th 2018, the Director of Environmental Health was informed of a fire at the Providenciales dump site at the tire section. EHD contacted the Fire Department and Police for assistance to conduct the following:
•Extinguish the fire
•Provide EHD with an investigation report
EHD wishes to advise the residents of Providenciales especially those living in the Wheeland and Chalk Sound areas, that the department is addressing the current fire at the disposal site with the contractor.
We wish to assure the public that we are committed to safe-guarding public health while also creating an environment which is healthy and aesthetically pleasing to both residents and visitors.
SOURCE TCIG PRESS OFFICE
TCIG APPOINTS LEANDREA MISSICK AS EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR
The Office of the Deputy Governor is pleased to congratulate Leandrea Missick on her appointment to the position of Executive Administrator within the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Gaming.
Ms. Missick holds an Associate’s Degree in Hospitality Tourism Management from the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree, majoring in Computer Information Sciences and a minor in Sociology from Barry University.
After graduating from the University, she returned home to the Turks and Caicos Islands where she was employed by Scotiabank (TCI) Ltd in Grand Turk as a teller in January 2012. During that time, each quarter she was awarded certificates of achievement for outstanding performance and 100% balancing ratio for top teller of the Branch, and at the end of the year she was awarded as top performing teller for all TCI branches.
In December, 2013, she was promoted to Personal Banking Officer and because of her outstanding performance in meeting the Bank’s expectations in executing the guidelines and polices, and reaching arrival targets set by the bank, she was further recognized, but it did not stop there. Earlier in the year, Leandrea was awarded Best of the Best nominee for the most outstanding performance in the Grand Turk Branch.
Comment on her new appointment, Ms. Missick stated; “In my previous employment, I have been able to interact with persons across the entire Turks and Caicos Islands. However, I felt that the time came for me to give directly back to my country by taking advantage of the opportunity to join the Civil Service. I intend to carry forward the same energy, professionalism and commitment to foster the growth and development of not only the Ministry but the Service as a whole.”
Deputy Governor, Hon. Anya Williams stated; “We are pleased to welcome Ms. Leandrea Missick to the Turks and Caicos Islands Civil Service and to have her join our team in the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Gaming. We hope that she will find her time in the public service to be most engaging and will take full advantage of the opportunities provided to her.”
SOURCE- TCIG PRESS OFFICE
RODNEY COX APPOINTED AS PRINCIPAL OF MARJORIE BASDEN HIGH SCHOOL
Office of the Deputy Governor is pleased to congratulate Mr. Rodney Cox on his appointment to the role of Principal, Marjorie Basden High School.
Mr. Cox holds a Teacher’s Diploma in Industrial Arts (Technical Drawing, Metalwork & Woodwork) from Mico Teacher's College, Jamaica; a Bachelor of Education Degree in General Technology (Technical Drawing, AutoCAD & Woodwork) from University of Technology, Jamaica; and a Master of Science Degree in Leadership from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Mr. Cox is a product of the Marjorie Basden High School (then Pierson High). After completing his Teacher Education training, he returned home to serve his Alma Mater. During his 26 years of service there, he worked as teacher of Industrial Arts, Physical Education and as coach of numerous sporting teams/events. He has served as the Head of the Technical Vocational Department for 9 years, then as Vice Principal for 10 years, and most recently as the Acting Principal for the Marjorie Basden High School.
Elated with his new appointment to Principal, Mr. Rodney Cox stated; “I am indeed honored to be given the opportunity to lead this esteemed organization. I made a decision years ago that I would remain and serve my community, despite the fact that many were moving on to what they considered greener pastures. I have dedicated many years of my life to the development of this organization. I have served in many capacities and under the leadership of other principals and vice principals, from whom I have learned a lot; and I have upgraded my knowledge and skills in the field of education during my time of service as well. I view this appointment as an opportunity to utilize this wealth of experience and knowledge gained through the years to expand upon the foundation laid by my forerunners, and leave a legacy worthy of emulation for those who will come after me.”
Deputy Governor, Hon. Anya Williams stated; “I would like to congratulate Mr. Cox on his appointment to the role of Principal of the Marjorie Basden High School, which follows on from the promotion of former Principal Mr. David Bowen to the post of Education Officer within the Ministry of Education. Having dedicated over 20 years to the education sector and particularly to his own alma mater the Marjorie Basden High School, I am sure that this appointment is very special to Mr. Cox and look forward to great outcomes from him and from this noble institution going forward.”
SOURCE - TCIG PRESS OFFICE