Zoya Faessler

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCES 2016 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES

The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services is pleased to publish the complete list of recipients of the 2016 Scholarship awards to complete tertiary level studies.

The Scholarship Advisory Committee met during the period of June and July to review all applications received on or before the application deadline of 30th April, 2016.

The following one hundred and seventy (170) awardees were successful based on the identified priority areas, grade point averages and other policy related criteria. In total, the Educational Advisory Committee considered Three Hundred and forty (340) applications for further study, local, regionally and internationally.

The Deputy Premier & Minister responsible for Education, Hon. Akierra Mary Deanne Missick extends a profound thank you to all the members of the Education Advisory Committee for their dedication to complete this year’s review of applications, and subsequent list of awardees. 

She stated; “I know the caliber of applications received this year made the review of awards very difficult, and I appreciate the due care and attention you gave to each application.

“I also want to thank the staff of the Ministry of Education and Department of Education for their work in assisting with receiving applications, fielding enquiries and general assistance leant to the Scholarship Secretariat during this period.” 

“Congratulations is extended to all of the Awardees, and the Minister expressed All 170 Awardees must know that their Country has made an investment in their academic pursuits, and for that we expect a lot in return on completion of their studies.”

The Ministry urges Applicants who may not have been successful to re-apply to the Secretariat for possible consideration in the future.

Award letters will be available from July 29th 2016 and can be picked up at the Ministry of Education in Grand Turk, the Department of Education in Providenciales, and District Commissioners Offices in South and North Caicos during normal working hours, 8am – 4:30pm.

by Zoya Faessler

GOVERNOR AND POLICE COMMISSIONER DISCUSS SECURITY ISSUES WITH DOMINICAN REPUBLIC COMMUNITY: PLEDGE POLICE'S COMMITMENT TO FIND PERPETRATORS 

The Governor, Peter Beckingham, met separately on 19 July the Premier and Police Commissioner and representatives of the Dominican Republic community to discuss the recent murder of a DR citizen, and developments since then. The Governor said,

"I told Edwin Hernandez, a member of the DR Consulate-General, and members of the community how saddened I was to hear in London, when I was there last week on official business, of the tragic murder of Sorineida Moreno-Arias. Following the earlier murder of another DR citizen this is a tragic loss of a young life. I told the community that we have also reported these incidents to our Ambassador in Santo Domingo.

"I said to the community that I had complete confidence in the Police Commissioner and his team who I knew were doing everything in their power to bring the perpetrator of this awful crime to justice. Commissioner Smith, who joined me for the meeting, and I underlined that the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force would leave no stone unturned to arrest the individual or individuals concerned.

"Commissioner Smith and I also said to the DR representatives that we had no objections to the community arranging lawful events to express their anxiety at these recent incidents.  I was grateful for the reassurances of the DR community that any gatherings should be peaceful, and that they regretted the isolated attacks on the police by a small number of their group. 

"The Premier, Minister of Finance, Commissioner of Police and I also had a useful discussion about wider security issues. We agreed that we should consider a number of options to strengthen security measures across the community, as well as providing our reassurance to the public at large that we believed the RTCIPF, who had our full support, were working as hard as possible to solve all outstanding murders in Grand Turk and Providenciales regardless of when they were committed. We will consider options at a further meeting of the National Security Council next week, and subsequently hold a further meeting of the Security Council Advisory Group."  

by Zoya Faessler

A sack of suspected cocaine washed up on shore

ROYAL TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS POLICE FORCE

                     Press Release                       

A sack of suspected cocaine washed up on shore

On Thursday 14th July 2016 around 4PM, a large amount of drugs was found and handed over to Tactical Unit Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent.

The white sack containing thirty-two (32) packages of suspected cocaine weighed a total of 36.846 Kilograms (36846.0 grams), with a street value of US$736,920.00 were washed up on the shoreline of one of the Islands in the Turks and Caicos.

As a result of an instruction order given by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, around 3:30PM today (Saturday 16th July 2016) the drugs were destroyed at the Government incinerator on Providenciales.

No one was arrested.

by Zoya Faessler

TURKS AND CAICOS POST-CABINET MEETING STATEMENT

Her Excellency the Acting Governor Anya Williams chaired the 21st Meeting of the Cabinet held at the Hilly Ewing Building in Providenciales on Thursday July 14th, 2016.

All ministers were present.

At this meeting Cabinet:

Received a briefing from the Commissioner of Police on recent criminal activity;

Under the provisions of Regulation 5A of the Business Licensing Regulations, Cabinet denied a business license application from Fresh Products TCI to operate in a restricted business activity under the Business Licensing Regulations;

Approved a reduction of import duties from 10% to 0 on the importation of materials imported for the private construction of the Venetian Road and Ocean Drive in Providenciales;

Recommended the development of a policy by the Public Works Department, Planning and Ministry of Finance to allow for concessions to be granted for the construction of privately owned primary and secondary roads traversed by the public;

Advised the Ministry of Finance to progress to the Secretary of State the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority proposal for the refinancing of the TCIAA's existing loan in order to facilitate the redevelopment of the South Caicos Airport;

Approved an amendment to Travel Policy pertaining to the local accommodation and subsistence rates in the Turks and Caicos Islands due to increases in the rate structure due to market demand;

Approved the entering of a lease for the Maritime Department at SDR Commercial Center, Unit 107, 176 South Dock Road, Providenciales for a period of 3 years;

Approved the Draft Gaming Policy and the necessary revisions to the Gaming Legislation in order to facilitate the establishment of a Gaming Commission;

Advised Her Excellency the Acting Governor to approve the opening of the 2016-2017 Crawfish Season from August 15th 2016 to March 15th, 2017;

Approved the award of 169 new scholarship and grant awards as per the recommendations of the Education Advisory Committee. Award letters will be available for collection the week commencing July 29th, 2016;

Approved a proposal from Summerhill Developments Ltd to develop a 2 storey condominium hotel of 24 one, two and three bedroom units in the Bight and Thomas Stubbs, Providenciales subject to Planning approval 

Recommended the establishment of a policy regarding refurbishments of developments previously constructed under Development Agreements and approved a request from the Sands Resort in this regard. 

Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.

by Zoya Faessler