Solving Provo's Growing Traffic Problem
Traffic in TCI, specifically Providenciales, is becoming increasingly chaotic.
With the influx of vehicles into the country, there are more drivers on our roadways, leading to traffic congestion that was never before seen in our islands. With this has also come an increase in vehicular accidents.
RTC sat down with Deputy Director of Road Traffic, Wilbur Caley and Sgt. Damien Mitchell, Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Head of Traffic, to get insights and updates on the state of traffic in the TCI.
Unauthorised illegal taxis, colloquially known as jitneys, have been pointed out by many locals for making our roadways hazardous.
According to Caley, the Road Safety department has sent in a number of recommendations to Cabinet that will put in place two new categories of public service providers: one, a community cab and the other, a minibus service.
These two new categories will allow Turks and Caicos citizens to enter the transportation business and to serve local communities, specifically.
The community cabs will replicate a taxi service while the minibuses will have set routes across the island.
Caley said that Minister of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communication, the Hon. Vaden Delroy Williams, is on board with the recommendations and they are now awaiting the approval of the submission by Cabinet.
Sgt. Damien Mitchell is looking forward to the implementation of legitimate community transport as he has become frustrated with the illegal jitney business.
Caley said that with this new legislation, traffic officials hope to eliminate the need for illegal transport in the TCI. He said that there have already been serious expressions of interest from those hoping to enter the field of community transport but he said that there is a criteria for obtaining such a license.
These include having TCI citizenship and having a business license. Additionally, only a particular class of vehicle can qualify for this license. Applicants must have a clean police record and they must also pass the Tides Certificate Course with the Tourist Board.
Following the extensive works that have been done to improve roadways on Millenium Highway in Providenciales, Caley and Mitchell said that the round-a-about at Suzie Turn is another place of interest.
According to Sgt. Mitchell, there were plans to put stop lights at both Suzie Turn and Cherokee Road but following last year’s hurricanes, those funds were diverted to more immediate needs.
Nonetheless, said Caley, Suzie Turn remains a problematic area on our roadways. He said that the Road Traffic department is looking at long-lasting stop lights that run partially on solar energy to be placed at Suzie Turn.
South Dock Road is a notoriously dangerous road way in Providenciales and Caley said that there are serious ongoing efforts to mitigate the frequency of accidents and mishaps on that road.
He said there there will soon be a meeting between various stakeholders including the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force, Road Safety, the Department of Public Works, the Ports Authority as well as the owners of heavy equipment that use South Dock Road to transport loads.
Caley said that heavy equipment operators will no longer be able to overload their vehicles with materials to the point that the material drops along the roadway. Their vehciles will be inspected before they leave the port to ensure that they have not overloaded.
Caley also promises improved road signage along South Dock Road.
Sgt. Mitchell said that police enforcement is key to ensure that motorists obey traffic signage. He also urged motorists in the TCI to be responsible while using our roads.
According to Caley, last year, over 13,000 vehicles were licensed countrywide. That number is expected to climb by at least 1,000 by the end of 2018.
According to information from the Customs Department, on average, 150 to 180 vehicles are imported into the TCI per month.
Source: Allie Capron (RTC News)
DDME Director says Earthquakes and Tsunamis are a major threat to TCI
Dr. Virginia Clerveaux, Director of the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies, wants the public and authorities to take seriously the threat of an earthquake or tsunami striking the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Her remarks come in light of recent and alarming seismic activity throughout the region and the rest of the world.
On September 23rd, the Dominican Republic experienced a 5.2 magnitude earthquake, bringing the country to a total of 7 minor to moderate earthquakes in a 10-day time span.
On September 28th, a strong earthquake was felt off the coast of the Leeward Islands. Dominica and Martinique were among those affected.
Internationally, a monster 7.5 earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, causing a tsunami that has left 844 people dead as of today, October 3rd, 2018. The death toll expected to climb.
Most recently, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit Port de Paix, Haiti at 8:11p.m. on Saturday, October, 6th, 2018. Reports reaching RTC indicate that the extending tremors were felt as far away as the Southern Bahamas and residents in various locations throughout the Turks of Caicos Islands have reported feeling tremors following the earthquake.
Dr. Clerveaux urged the country to remember that hurricanes are not the only natural threat to our islands. We are also extremely vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis.
Though the Turks and Caicos is not on or near the fault line of a tectonic plate, the country can feel tremors from earthquakes that occur in nearby locations.
These islands are at great risk of tsunamis which often occur in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake, giving those in its path very little time to prepare.
Dr. Clerveaux hopes that TCI can soon invest in the installation of an emergency warning system across the TCI to warn the public of such threats. This system may include sirens that will ring out to warn those around of impending danger.
The director also hopes that the country can soon complete the mapping of the ocean floor. This will allow experts to determine which areas will receive the highest or lowest waves in the event of a tsuanmi, and thus, determine which points are safest for refuge.
In the event of a tsunami, Dr. Clerveaux says to get to high ground as quickly as possible.
Source: Allie Capron (RTC News)
Saving Our Boys Panel Discussion – “Stop The Gun Violence"
Overview
Violence is an ever growing problem. It continues to affect the lives of our young people, destroys the family circle and breaks down the moral fabric of our society. This crippling disease has quickly made its way throughout our neighboring Caribbean country and has now taken up residence in our beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands. We must face the reality that there is just no escaping this threat. Realizing that our young men are at risk and the time is now to address this issue, the Minister of Education Ministry of Education, Department of Youth Affairs will be hosting a panel discussion to facilitate our young men, under the theme “Stop the Gun Violence Let’s Talk Solutions!!” Boys in our communities are challenged today in ways they have not been before. The Youth Department is putting an end to gun violence by cultivating a village that will provide tools and resources that will gain our youth access to a brighter future. The Panel Discussion will be conducted from 6pm Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Complex.
Objectives for Discussion:
1. To involve (young men) in community awareness activities regarding violence against one another
2. To consider (young men’s) point of view and to make them responsible for a process of culturally sensitive change, oriented towards a zero tolerance of violence
3. To raise awareness of the laws in place that address violence
4. To repair the vision and future of the young men of the Turks and Caicos Islands
The topics for this workshop will focus on:
1. Youth, violence and the society (Overview of youth, violence, the relationship between violence and the impact on family/home/ individual & society)
2. Conflict solving (discussion on the different approaches to solving conflicts, the benefits to be derived from conflict solving, management, and total transformation)
3. Changing Course: Preventing Youths from Joining Gangs (the role of family, counselors, religious institutions, community, government)
4. Violence prevention, coping and de-stressing strategies and how to be a leader at home and in the community.
Panel Discussion schedule:
Providenciales (September 14, 2018, Gustavas Lightbourne Sports Complex, 6pm)
Contact: Mr. Nixon Dickenson at 338-5101 or email: Ndickenson@gov.tc
ACT NOW! HIV Week of Testing
HIV testing is still the gateway to HIV prevention, treatment, care and other support services. People’s knowledge of their HIV status through HIV testing services is crucial to the success of our HIV response.
As we work towards meeting the 90-90-90 Global targets of all people with HIV being diagnosed and know their status, 90% of people with HIV linked to care and receiving Antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 90% of those on ART to have a suppressed viral load by 2020, alongside ending AIDS by 2030 we hereby inform the general public of our week of Mobile Testing.
Grand Turk- September 10th and 11th
Providenciales - September 10th -11th
North and Middle Caicos - 13th September
South Caicos - 14th September
Time to act know your status
For more information, contact the Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit on 338-2772 Grand Turk or 338-4942 Providenciales
ANNUAL PROCUREMENT PLAN FY 2018/2019
The Contracts and Corporate Performance Management Unit (CCPMU) within the Office of the Deputy Governor is pleased to advise of the publication of the Procurement Plan for FY 2018/2019. Section 22 of the Public Procurement Ordinance requires the publication of the Annual Procurement Plan in order to draw the market’s early attention to potential procurement opportunities which are expected to proceed during the financial year. The publication is an indication of potential procurement opportunities and may be subject to change.
A copy of the Annual Procurement Plan for FY 2018/2019 can be found on the Turks and Caicos Islands Government’s website at https://gov.tc/…/ot…/1251-annual-procurement-plan-fy-2018-19
CAPITAL PROGRAMME FY 2018/2019
The CCPMU is also pleased to advise of the launch of the Capital Programme for FY 2018/2019.
Following the passage of the budget on July 16, 2018, two (2) batches of Invitations to Tender (ITTs) were released on August 1, 2018 and August 15, 2018. The following Capital Projects were included:
ITTs which closed on August 29, 2018:
• SCHOOLS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT PHASE 1, Tender Reference Number TR 18/07
LOT 1: H. J. Robinson High School, Grand Turk [Contract No.: PWD 18/01 C]
LOT 2: Oseta Jolly Primary School, Providenciales [Contract No.: PWD 18/02 C]
LOT 3: Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Grand Turk [Contract No.: PWD 18/03 C]
LOT 4: Raymond Gardiner High School, North Caicos [Contract No.: PWD 18/04 C]
ITTs which will close on September 12, 2018:
• DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PROMENADE AND CRAFT MARKET FOR BOTTLE CREEK, NORTH CAICOS, Tender Reference TR 18/08 [Contract No. PWD 18/09 C]
• REFURBISHMENT WORKS TO EMS (AMBULANCE) BASE - PROVIDENCIALES, Tender Reference Number TR 18/10 [Contract No. PWD 18/22 C]
Following the issuance of these two (2) batches of ITTs, a third batch of tenders has now been released and includes the following Capital Projects:
ITTs which will close on September 29, 2018:
1. Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture and Library Services
• SCHOOLS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT PHASE 2, Tender Reference Number TR 18/14
Lot 1: Clement Howell High School, Providenciales [Contract No.: PWD 18/05 C]
Lot 2: Mary Robinson Primary School, Salt Cay [Contract No.: PWD 18/06 C]
2. Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Human Services and Sports
• REFURBISHMENT OF MINISTRY INFRASTRUCTURE - PARADE GROUNDS, GRAND TURK, Tender Reference Number TR 18/11 [Contract No. PWD 18/26 C]
3. Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning
• ROAD DEVELOPMENT PHASE 4, Tender Reference Number TR 18/12
Lot 1: Blue Hills [Contract No. PWD 18/20 C]
Lot 2: Five Cays [Contract No. PWD 18/46 C]
• REINSTATEMENT OF SEAWALL SALT CAY, Tender Reference Number TR 18/13 [Contract No. PWD 18/08 C]
• REINSTATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS ALL ISLANDS, Tender Reference Number TR 18/15
Lot 1: Crown Land Building [Contract No.: PWD 18/07 C]
Lot 2: Ministry of Education [Contract No.: PWD 18/16 C]
• SHELTERS AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, Tender Reference Number TR 18/16
Lot 1: Community Centre, South Caicos [Contract No.: PWD 18/41C]
Lot 2: Antioch Adventist Church, Grand Turk [Contract No.: PWD 18/14 C]
Lot 3: H. J. Robinson High School, Grand Turk [Contract No.: PWD 18/43 C]
Lot 4: Club House, Salt Cay [Contract No.: PWD 18/15 C]
Lot 5: Methodist Sunday School, Salt Cay [Contract No.: PWD 18/45 C]
LOT 6: Conch Bar Community Centre, Middle Caicos [Contract No.: PWD 18/13 C]
Interested parties are encouraged to visit the Turks and Caicos Islands Government’s website at https://www.gov.tc/government-tenders to review all open tenders and for continuous updates on capital projects and are reminded to ensure that their Business Licenses, National Insurance and National Health Insurance contributions are up to date.
All interested parties are also urged to attend Pre-Tender Meetings which are scheduled to be held at 10:00 A.M. on 6 September 2018 in Providenciales at the Public Works Department, Butterfield Square, Downtown and 9:00 A.M on 7 September 2018 in Grand Turk at the Office of the Deputy Governor, Waterloo Plaza, Waterloo Road during which the requirements of the ITTs will be reviewed and the procurement process will be explained in detail.
To note, with the approval of the budget, the Capital Development Fund has a total budget of $36,625,698 for Capital Projects for FY 18/19.
Teachers’ Strike in Guyana is Over
eachers in Guyana are back on the job today, after conciliatory talks between their union and the Education Ministry resulted in an agreement to end strike action that had been triggered by government’s refusal to meet their pay increase demands.
Officials from the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) yesterday signed a Terms of Resumption, which will see the two sides going to binding arbitration. The deal brought an end to three days of industrial action at the beginning of the new school year.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, GTU’s President Mark Lyte said some teachers could be expected back in the classroom from as early as today, while all of them will return to work on Monday.
Twenty-four hours after the full resumption of duties by teachers, the GTU and the Ministry will meet to determine the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the arbitration panel as guidance to the Memorandum of Understanding between the two sides.
The Terms of Resumption also state that there will be no victimization on either side, there will be no loss of pay or seniority, and that the status quo will prevail.
The GTU had proposed a 40 per cent increase in salary for 2016, 45 per cent in 2017, 50 per cent in 2018, 50 per cent in 2019 and 50 per cent in 2020 be granted to all categories of teachers/educators for the years 2016 through 2020.
But the Education Ministry’s counter-proposal had made available GYD$700 million (US$3.3 million) to facilitate an increase in salaries for all teachers based on the current salary scale and the previously proposed GYD$200 million (US$952,190) for debunching for 2018.
Unlike conciliation, where the parties in a dispute are brought together with an independent third-party (facilitator) to settle the matter through negotiations, arbitration involves an independent third-party hearing the evidence brought by both sides and making a final decision.
Serena Williams into US Open final with emphatic win over Anastasija Sevastova
Serena Williams has another shot at winning her first Grand Slam title since giving birth after defeating Anastasija Sevastova in 66 minutes in their US Open semi-final.
Williams, beaten by Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final in July, won 6-3 6-0 against Latvian 19th seed Sevastova.
The 36-year-old American will play Japan's Naomi Osaka in Saturday's final after the 20th seed beat Madison Keys.
Victory will equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
"It is really incredible. A year ago I was literally fighting for my life at the hospital after having the baby," said Williams, who missed last year's US Open because of the birth of her child, Olympia.
"Every day I step out on this court I am so grateful to have an opportunity to play this sport.
"So no matter what happens in any match, I already feel like I have already won."
Geoffrey Owens: 'Job-shamed' Cosby Show star lands TV role
Geoffrey Owens, the Cosby Show star who was "job shamed" after being spotted working in a grocery, has taken Tyler Perry up on his offer of a TV role.
Perry's spokeswoman said Owens will appear in 10 episodes of his drama The Haves and the Have Nots, which is broadcast on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
The show follows three families based in Savannah, Georgia - two are wealthy and powerful and one is poor.
Owens played Elvin Tibideaux in The Cosby Show, which aired from 1985-92.
Writer and director Perry based The Haves and the Have Nots on his 2011 play of the same name.
He offered Owens a role after photos of the actor working as a cashier at Trader Joe's were mocked online.
A customer's snapshots of Owens bagging groceries in New Jersey were published by the Daily Mail and Fox News, leading to accusations of "job-shaming".
Actors and celebrities rushed to defend the actor, which Owens told ABC was "really overwhelming, in a good way".
Owens - who has also worked on TV shows It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and That's So Raven - said he had worked at Trader Joe's in Clifton, New Jersey, for 15 months.
North Korean 'spy' charged over NHS cyber attack
US prosecutors have charged a North Korean man alleged to have been involved in creating the malicious software used to cripple the UK’s National Health Service.
The 2017 incident left NHS staff reverting to pen and paper after being locked out of computer systems.
Park Jin Hyok is said to be linked to the Lazarus Group.
The hacking collective is also blamed for the hack on Sony Pictures in 2014.
The US Department of Justice alleged the North Korean-backed cyber group had caused major damage.
"The scale and scope of the cyber-crimes alleged by the complaint is staggering and offensive to all who respect the rule of law and the cyber norms accepted by responsible nations,” said the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John Demers.
“The complaint alleges that the North Korean government, through a state-sponsored group; robbed a central bank and citizens of other nations; retaliated against free speech in order to chill it half a world away; and created disruptive malware that indiscriminately affected victims in more than 150 other countries, causing hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars’ worth of damage.”
North Korea routinely denies being involved in hack attacks attributed to them.
Mr Park is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, and wire fraud.
Prosecutors said Mr Park was believed to be in North Korea.
"North Korea won't be handing over this guy any time soon," said Martyn Williams, a North Korea observer and journalist.
"So it likely won't mean much on that level, but it is a symbolic step for the US government to take.
"It helps put meat on the bones of the numerous reports that said North Korea was responsible and is a relatively rare move for the US government."
Deutsche Bank's top investor is selling out
One of Deutsche Bank's top investors is selling out at an awkward time for Germany's biggest lender.
Chinese conglomerate HNA Group plans to offload its entire stake in the bank, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The source said the exit could take up to 18 months.
The holder of nearly 8% of the voting rights in Deutsche Bank (DB), HNA has in recent months sought to sell off many of its overseas investments.
The Wall Street Journal, which was first to report the planned sale of the investment in Deutsche Bank, said that HNA was under pressure from the Chinese government to return to its core airline business.
Representatives from HNA and Deutsche Bank declined to comment.
News of the exit comes as Deutsche Bank is trying to persuade investors that CEO Christian Sewing can turnaround the bank after three years of losses by returning to its roots as a lender to German and European companies and households.
The bank's shares slid 1.7% on Friday. Rival Commerzbank (CRZBF) closed down 1.4% while Germany's DAX index was little changed.