Ministry of Education signs MOU with University of the West Indies
On the evening of Tuesday, October 16th, 2018, after the launching of the JAGS McCartney Lecture Series at Shore Club in Providenciales, the Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture and Library Services and the University of the West Indies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which is designed to stimulate and provide tools for the pathway forward for national development.
This symbolic gesture demonstrated the Turks and Caicos Islands Government’s commitment to the strengthening of the relationship with the University of the West Indies (UWI) as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Minister of Education, the Hon Karen Malcolm, signed on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government and Professor Dencil Williams of Jamaica, signed on behalf of the University of the West Indies.
This MOU was signed in the presence of the Governor, the Premier, the Attorney General and all other distinguished and invited guests.
This MOU will facilitate the opening of the UWI Open Campus in Providenciales and will allow for far-reaching benefits to students of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The MOU seeks to formalize and strengthen the relationship while fostering greater co-operation between the two involved.
The Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture and Library Services continues its quest to encourage and facilitate all Turks and Caicos Islanders to further their education and enrolled into Tertiary Studies.
As part of this mandate, the Turks and Caicos Islands Government in recent years attained full membership to the University of the West Indies. This therefore enables Turks and Caicos Islanders who are not beneficiaries of a scholarship to be able to attend any of the University of the West Indies three campuses in Jamaica, Barbados or Trinidad & Tobago and pay a reduced tuition fee.
UWI has broken into the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the first time.
The 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings has ranked UWI among the world’s top institutions.
The rankings show that The UWI is located among the top 1,258 universities in world for 2019.
This puts The UWI in the elite band of the top 5% of universities worldwide based on data showing that there are over 25,000 recognized universities, globally.
Specifically, Times Higher Education ranked UWI at 591 out of the 1,258 universities that made the list.
5.9 magnitude earthquake strikes Taiwan
SINGAPORE - An earthquake of magnitude 5.9 struck Taiwan, the United States Geological Survey said on Tuesday, and witnesses said it set buildings shaking in the capital Taipei.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the quake, which hit 95 km (59 miles) southeast of the coastal town of Su-ao at a depth of 26 km (16 miles).
Su-ao is about 70 km (44 miles) away from the capital.
Exclusive: We finally have details on the TCI Climate Change Policy
As weather events appear to become more extreme, the issue of climate change continuously nears the forefront of world issues.
During a press conference at the Hilly Ewing Building on Wednesday, September 12th, 2018, the Premier announced that the Turks and Caicos finally has a climate change policy.
Little has been circulated about the policy since then.
RTC caught up with the Director of the Premier's Office and Chairman of the Climate Change Committee, Mr. Ronlee James, on Friday, October 19th, to learn more about the policy and what it entails.
Mr. James told RTC that the climate change policy was passed in Cabinet 2 weeks ago and that it would be made available to the public during the month of November when TCI observes Environmental Awareness Month.
Mr. James explained that the policy details how each Ministry will contribute to the mitigation of climate change and how the country as a whole will strive toward a climate change initiative.
He explained the policy is guided by the following objectives:
- To educate the wider public on the potential impacts of climate change and the recommended adaptation strategies.
- To ensure the protection and wise use of carbon sinks.
- To enhance and protect human health.
- To conserve and guarantee a sustainable supply of fresh water.
- To increase resilience by adapting to the adverse impacts of climate change.
- To achieve the objectives set in the TCI energy conservation policy and implementation strategy.
- To reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- To achieve greater food security through sustainable agriculture production.
- To encourage the use of green technology.
- To advocate sustainable tourism at all levels.
Mr. James said that Environmental Awareness Month in November will see a series of events and activities that seek to educate the TCI public about climate change, its causes, its risks and the importance of mitigating its impact.
Within the month of November, Mr. James promises, that TCI will also see more climate change-related legislation being taken to Cabinet.
Mr. James said Turks and Caicos Islanders ought to be worried about the issue of climate change and that the issue must be taken seriously in our country and the wider Caribbean.
Though the Turks and Caicos Islands and other small island developing states, do not contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions nor other detriments to the environment, Mr. James explained that there is still much to be gained by reducing our environmental impact. He said that these efforts will send a message to bigger nations who contribute the most to the downfall of the global environment.
"We should practice what we preach," the Director of the Premier's Office said.
Source: Allie Capron (RTC News)
Upcoming road works will lead to detours, says Infrastructure Minister
Over 6-million dollars has been allocated in this financial period, specifically for roadworks.
Numerous locations across Grand Turk, Providenciales and Salt Cay have been tapped to receive road-related repairs and adjustments.
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning is working hard to see these much-needed improvements through.
Works have already begun throughout Providenciales and Grand Turk and are soon to start in Salt Cay.
These works will cause some temporary inconveniences for residents.
RTC caught up with the minister responsible for infrastructure, housing and planning, Goldray Ewing, to get more details on how these works are progressing.
Hon. Ewing said that in some areas in Grand Turk, roads are infringing into private property and the walls of some properties may have to come down. The ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning is handling these cases with care and will ensure that the property owners affected are fully aware of the situation.
The minister said that the roadworks in Grand Turk would improve the surroundings aesthetically and he also noted that residents would benefit from smoother roadways while driving.
He also said that the ministry will be tackling landscaping on the sides of the roads as well as within the medians.
The minister said that Providenciales roads in Five Cays, Blue Hills and Wheeland will see further works sometime in December.
In the meantime, the ministry will be improving the round-a-bouts in Providenciales. Works on the Airport Road round-a-bout has already begun. The minister hopes for these works to be complete by Christmas.
As for detours in Providenciales when these road works begin, the minister said there are two options:
(1) Either motorists will have to use one side of Leeward Highway, meaning only two lanes will be open on the Highway or (2) the Highway will be closed completely and motorists will have to use the glass shack route to come to town.
Source: Allie Capron (RTC News)
Flooding in T&T an indication of climate change effects
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The government of Jamaica says the recent adverse flooding in Trinidad and Tobago is an indication of the Caribbean's struggle to combat the adverse effects of climate change.
In a release expressing sadness at the flooding, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, said: “This is yet another example of how the Caribbean is having to grapple with the very real effects of climate change”.
She noted that while there are no reports of loss of life, “we are truly saddened to learn of the number of persons affected by the heavy rains and others trapped in their communities by landslides”.
“We therefore need to not only stand together in the aftermath of disaster, but to continue to work together and advocate in our regional and multilateral spaces, for strong global action and financing. Jamaica will continue to work with its CARICOM colleagues more widely in this regard,” the minister continued.
She further stated that she had been in touch with her counterpart and the Jamaican High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago, and understood that the Trinidadian Government has already commenced recovery and relief efforts and would be working with its Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) as well as Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).
Magnitude 5.1 earthquake shakes Trinidad and Tobago
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 was felt in sections of the twin island republic on Sunday afternoon.
The Seismic Research Centre at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine campus reports that the tremor was felt at 12:35 pm (local time) had a depth of 80 kilometres and was located at Latitude: 11.51N and Longitude: 60.12W.
In the twin island republic it was felt 78 km NE of Scarborough, 161 km NE of Arima and 181 km NE of Port of Spain.
There have been no reports of injuries or damages.
Barbados rocked by 4.2 magnitude earthquake
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2 was recorded here on Saturday afternoon but there were no immediate reports of damages or injuries.
The Seismic Research Centre (SRC) at the St Augustine campus of the University of the West indies (UWI) in Trinidad and Tobago said that the quake occurred at 4.41 pm (local time).
It was located Latitude: 12.29N, Longitude: 59.74W with a depth of 60 km.
The SRC said the quake was felt 92 km south of Bridgetown, 166 km north east of Scarborough, Tobago and 191 km south east of Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Sprint King Usain Bolt scores two goals on his first start
Lightning struck twice Friday as Usain Bolt scored two goals for the Central Coast Mariners in a pre-season friendly.
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is expecting her first child
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is pregnant with her first child, the UK's royal family has announced.
Hon. Astwood among Caribbean Health Ministers at Global Health & Climate Conference in Grenada
Caribbean Ministers of Health met at the Third Global Conference on Health and Climate in St. Georges, Grenada on October 16th and 17th to approve a plan on health system resilience in the face of climate change.
The event convened health authorities and experts from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop an Action Plan for Small Island Developing States, who are on the front line of increasing health impacts of climate change.
Hon. Edwin Astwood, Minister responsible for Health, Sports and Human Services represents the Turks and Caicos during the event as a featured panelists in the discussion on building climate resilient health systems.
Former Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, D.r Rufus Ewing, was also in attendance, representing the Pan American Health Organisation Health Systems and Services.
“We saw last year the devastating effects of hurricanes Irma, Maria and Harvey, and many other tropical storms that hit the Caribbean,” said Dr. Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organisation. “But we also face other challenges, such as floods; droughts; heatwaves; water and food security and safety; undernutrition; massive fisheries and marine biodiversity loss; vector borne diseases; and non-communicable diseases.”
“I don’t need to convince anyone in this room that the present situation is critical,” added Dr. Etienne. “Health is being impacted by climate change in many ways, and although small island developing states have made a small contribution to global emissions of Greenhouse Gases, our islands are at the forefront of climate change impacts.”
During the Conference, which was attended by 14 Caribbean Ministers of Health and Environment, four overarching issues will be discussed:
Supporting Caribbean health leadership to have their priorities and needs heard; strengthen national technical capacities to understand the impacts of climate change on health in small island developing states and to anticipate and prepare for those risks; developing the policies and implementing actions required to build climate-resilient health systems; and facilitating access to climate and health financing mechanisms.
The Conference is part of the WHO Initiative on Climate Change and Health in Small Island Developing States, which was launched in collaboration with the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Fijian Presidency of COP-23, at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in November 2017.
“The reason we are here today is because island nations have requested it,” said Dr.
Joy St. John, Assistant Director General for Climate and Other Determinants of
Health at WHO. “More extreme weather events are taking lives and having devastating impact
on livelihoods and economies, and even threatening to submerge some of the islands.
We need to ensure that people from these islands have the best possible level of health so
that no one gets left behind.”
The WHO initiative aims to provide national health authorities in SIDS with the
political, technical, and financial support to better understand and address the
effects of climate change on health.
It takes the form of three innovative, geographically dispersed meetings. The first
was held in Fiji, for Pacific SIDS, and the second in Mauritius, for SIDS of the
African and South-East Asian WHO Regions. The Conference in Grenada constitutes the
third meeting, and together with the regional plans developed during the other two meetings, will
contribute to a WHO global action plan for climate and health in Small Island Developing States.
Many small islands are already seeing an increase in climate-change related events,
including high burdens of climate-sensitive diseases such as vector-, food-, and
water-borne diseases; more frequent and severe extreme weather events; and rising sea levels.
“What we are seeing with respect to climate change and health is that how we define
ourselves as a Caribbean people is at stake,” said Hon. Nickolas Steele, Minister of
Health and Social Security of Grenada. “Sun, sea and sand is something we have been
proud of but it is also going to be our downfall. We need to make sure that we are ready and
that we are prepared and smart,” he concluded.
While countries have agreed to take action to limit global warming under the 2015
Paris Agreement, it is vital that health care facilities are reinforced,
early-warning surveillance systems implemented; and policy developed to ensure that those that are
most vulnerable to climate change events are not left behind.