All students to sit technical subject in June 2017 exam
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Come June 2017, all high school students will be required to sit a technical or vocational subject in their exit examinations.
Those subjects will be done in conjunction with four others, including mathematics and English language.
Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr Grace McLean, made the disclosure at the graduation ceremony for Career Advancement Programme (CAP) students at the Institute of International Recognised Qualifications (IIRQ) in Kingston.
She noted that the objective is to prepare high school leavers for the world of work. She noted that industry is seeking more skilled workers in areas such as information and communication technology (ICT), including animation, gaming, and web design, among others.
“The Government believes that education harnesses the creative and intellectual prowess of the Jamaican people and is the way forward in getting the nation to compete effectively in a modern, globalised economy,” she said.
Nearly 190 learners graduated during the ceremony held at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge, St Andrew, on July 7.
They were equipped with skills in areas such as construction, engineering, food preparation, culinary arts, and business and will be certified by the London-based City and Guilds.
Dr McLean commended the graduates and urged them to remain focused and be agents of change wherever they go.
Source: JIS
India Dalit couple hacked to death over miniscule debt
A man from India's Dalit community has been beheaded and his wife hacked to death after a row over a 15 rupees (22 cents; 16 pence) debt in Uttar Pradesh state. Police said the couple were murdered by an upper caste grocer on Thursday when they told him they needed time to pay for biscuits they had bought from him. The grocer has been arrested. Dalits, formerly known as untouchables, form the lowest rung of India's caste hierarchy. Police told the Press Trust of India news agency the incident took place in Mainpuri district early on Thursday as the couple were on their way to work. They were stopped by Ashok Mishra, the owner of a village grocery, who demanded that the couple pay the money for three packets of biscuits that they had bought for their three children a few days ago, reports say.
Turkey coup bid: Erdogan says US general 'taking side of plotters'
Turkey's president has blasted remarks by top US general Joseph Votel in the wake of the failed coup, accusing him of being "on the side of the plotters". Gen Votel, head of US Central Command, said jailing some military leaders could damage Turkish-American military co-operation. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Gen Votel should thank Turkey for securing democracy. The interior minister said on Friday 18,000 people had so far been detained.
Zika virus: Florida cases 'likely' to be first US-based infections
Four people suffering from the Zika virus in Florida are probably the first cases contracted within the US, health officials say. So far, cases outside of Latin America and the Caribbean, where the virus is prevalent, have been spread by travel to that region or sexual transmission. The four Florida cases mean US mosquitoes may be carrying the virus. Zika causes only a mild illness in most people but the virus has been linked to severe brain defects in newborns.
Cops seize 336 weapons under 'Get the Guns' campaign
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The ‘Get the Guns’ campaign continues to reap results in the number of illegal guns seized by the security forces in Jamaica since the start of the year.
Communication Officer, Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, reports that law-enforcement officers have seized 336 illegal guns from communities all across Jamaica.
Speaking at a press conference at the Office of the Commissioner in St Andrew on July 11, Superintendent Lindsay said the figure represents 37 more when compared to the corresponding period last year.
She informed that of the figure, 69 were taken from the parish of St James. She also noted that 584 rounds of ammunition were seized in the parish.
“We are very concerned about the number of firearms that are out there, because when we look at the statistics we’re seeing where the firearm accounts for 80 per cent of deaths that occur,” she noted.
Superintendent Lindsay urged Jamaicans to partner with the police is ridding their communities of illegal guns and ammunition as well as illicit activities that may be taking place. She also called on persons to use the toll free lines of 811 or 311 to report cases.
In the meantime, she informed that the police have partnered with the military to increase operations in sections of Western Jamaica.
Source: JIS
TCI's First Olympian
It's now official, Delano Williams is now an Olympian, as the United Kingdom today released Team UK for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil. Delano Williams makes history again as Turks and Caicos first Olympian.
Delano Williams TCI’s Darling of Track and Field was always interested in the sport, he took part in all Primary School events and was always top in whatever race he ran. He was catapulted into the sport in 2008 when his potential was recognized by Coach, Mr. Neil Harrison who took him under his wings at his High School, Munro College, Jamaica after his school in Turks was destroyed by Hurricane Ike. This disaster was sad for most residents in Grand Turk, but for young Delano this was the opportunity that would change his life forever and that of the Turks and Caicos.
Over the last 8 years Delano broke all National Records in the 100M and 200M. In Jamaica he was known as a Sports Sensation winning Boys and Girls Champs on many occasions thus making history even in Jamaica as the first non-Jamaican in the over 100 year Championships to make the cover of the prestigious Magazine.
He led Munro College to multiple wins at the Penn Relays in Pennsylvania, there too he also made the cover of that Magazine and won the most outstanding awards for his dominance on the Track. Delano quickly became known as Turks and Caicos Golden Boy, for there was hardly a race that he entered that he didn’t win gold in his signature event, the 200 mts. In 2010 Delano became the first track and field Athlete from the TCI to qualify for the Youth Olympics, however, that opportunity was never realized due to TCI’s non membership with the IOC. At the CARIFTA Games in 2011 and 2012 Delano won Gold back to back in the 200 mt. and made history by assisting the Relay Men’s Team to win a medal for the very first time.
Delano became a household name not only at home but regionally and internationally. In September, 2010 Delano competed in the Commonwealth Games. In November, 2010 at the 29th Commonwealth Sports Awards he was nominated for an award in the category as “Outstanding Young Achiever, he was 1st Runner up sharing the stage with the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt.
In 2011 Delano athleticism qualify him for the London Olympics in 2012. He became obsessed and determined that this time he will try out for the team. This was very challenging as Turks and Caicos is not a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). He turned to his Mentor, Mrs. Rita Gardiner for assistance, she immediately set to work, pulling out all her contacts through the Commonwealth Games Federation, she finally found an avenue in the IOC Charter, through the United Kingdom Eligibility Code that once an Athlete from the Overseas Territory holds a UK passport he/she can try out for the Olympics if the standard was made. They must also aligned themselves with a club in the UK. Mrs. Gardiner worked on this for months before it all came together and he was given the green light to participate in the UK Trials. She gives credit to the Governor’s Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who played a very important role in ensuring that a lot of the paperwork and obstacles were fast tracked, he received his passport 3 months before the UK Trials.
He travelled to Birmingham, England accompanied with his Coach, Neil Harrison, and President of the Commonwealth Games Association, Rita Gardiner, his Mother, Rita Barton and Director of the Sports Commission, Mr. Alvin Parker. Although he made the 7 Finalist he came up short in not making the Team. Although disappointed he was not crushed, his 3 D’s (Determination, Dedication and Discipline) allowed him a Gold Medal at the World Junior Championships a month later in Barcelona, Spain making history for himself and the Turks and Caicos Islands with a first International title..
In 2013 Delano transition to the United Kingdom whereby his fullest potential can be realized, through this change he also went from An Amateur Athlete to a Professional Athlete. Through this move he is better able to assist his fellow Athletes. In 2014 he established his Foundation the Delano Williams Foundation that is always assisting the young Athletes with Athletic Gear for competition at the local and International levels. He is sponsored by the renowned International Sporting Company NIKE and the local company FLOW and Caribbean Airways.
The Turks and Caicos follows Delano’s progress watching his great success, his dream of becoming an Olympian is now a reality. We support and wish him much success on the road to the Rio Olympics.
Rita J. Gardiner
President, Commonwealth Games Association
South Sudan clashes: US says violence "must stop"
The United States has said an outbreak of violence that has left hundreds dead in South Sudan "must stop".
Anyone impeding efforts to end the fighting would be held fully accountable, the White House warned. The UN has called for an immediate arms embargo, as well as attack helicopters to strengthen its peacekeeping force.
Days of fighting between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar in the capital, Juba, has left hundreds dead.
A ceasefire was called on Monday but it is not clear whether the violence has subsided. Heavy gunfire continued to be heard in the capital after President Kiir's ceasefire order came into effect at 1800 local time (1500 GMT) on Monday.
Two Chinese UN peacekeepers and one South Sudanese UN worker are among the hundreds of dead.
The US's National Security Adviser, Susan Rice, said: "This senseless and inexcusable violence - undertaken by those who yet again are putting self-interest above the well-being of their country and people - puts at risk everything the South Sudanese people have aspired to over the past five years."
Over 78,000 traffic tickets issued under Operation Zero Tolerance
MORE than 78,000 tickets have been issued for traffic breaches and over 1,600 motor vehicles seized under ‘Operation Zero Tolerance’, a joint initiative rolled out in May by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) targeting wayward road users.
The disclosure was made yesterday by head of the JCF’s Traffic Division, Senior Superintendent (SSP) Calvin Allen, as he gave an update on the programme at a press conference at the Office of the Police Commissioner in St Andrew.
“There have been over 300 motorcycles seized, over 400 arrests have been made and some 609 offensive weapons have been removed from the streets. We are aware also of the challenges we have with motorcycles on the road and almost 1,000 prosecutions have been done for the non-wearing of protective helmets,” SSP Allen told journalists.
“Critically all of what we have been doing comes back to the most dominant item on our roadways: road fatalities. What has happened since, in a very encouraging way for the first time in over two-and-a-half years, we are seeing where road fatalities for the current year is behind the previous year, to date, 205 last year as against 197 this year, we are eight behind in terms of fatalities,” he continued.
Identity management system could help curb lottery scamming, says IDB rep
THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) representative for Jamaica, Therese Turner-Jones, says identity rights are central to development and important for improving people’s lives throughout the region.
Turner-Jones, who is also general manager for IDB’s Caribbean Country Department, says a strengthened identity management system could help to address crime and violence in Jamaica, particularly as it relates to lotto scamming in Montego Bay.
“The establishment of a unique national identification system is crucial to link birth and death records, reduces the opportunity for fraud, and strengthens immigration and border control management, public safety and national security,” Turner-Jones said during her address at the inuagural staging of the Caribbean Civil Registration and identity Management Conference held in Montego Bay, St James, last week.
The conference, which was led by Jamaica’s Registrar General’s Department in collaboration with IDB, also had the support of senior leaders of Jamaica’s executive and judicial branches, as well as officials from various other Caribbean regional jurisdictions and organisations, including the Pan-American Health Organisation and 21 civil registrars from across the region.
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Chief Justice Zaila McCalla also noted the importance of identity and managing crime. She said an effective identity system is an important tool, especially in these days of technology.
Man robbed at Financial Institution
Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating the report of a Robbery that occurred on Sunday 10th July 2016 at Scotia Bank on the Leeward Highway, Providenciales.
The complainant told police that around 9:07PM while leaving the Automated Banking Machine (ABM), he was approached by an unknown short male, wearing a red shirt and short blue pants, who took his wallet containing two hundred ($200) dollars in cash and other identification cards. Before making off the culprit hit the victim on the head with a small black gun.
A thorough check was made in the area for a person matching the description but no one was found.
Investigations are ongoing.
Police appeal to anyone who may have been driving along the Leeward Highway in the vicinity of Scotia Bank during the time when these incidents occurred and have information that can assist them in their investigation, to please contact the Chalk Sound Police Station 338-5901.
To remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1- 800 8477 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.tc.
The information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.