Staff Writer 

August 11, 2023 – There are several steps to complete, but it’s looking more and more likely that there will be international boots on the ground in Haiti in the very near future.

The revelation came from Barbara A. Feinstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, in a press briefing on August 04.  It followed a whirlwind of activity prompted by Kenya’s recent announcement that they would consider leading any multinational force deployed to the beleaguered country.

She explained the process to get soldiers into the country.

“The next steps for the Kenyan Government are to perform an assessment on the ground in Haiti, which we expect to take place in the coming weeks; to engage with a wide variety of stakeholders on the ground in Haiti and New York at the United Nations.  Provided the Kenyans are able to secure approval from their own government, they would then work with the United Nations to secure UN authorization of such a force,” said Feinstein in a press conference covered by Caribbean media firms.

Feinstein said the US is prepared to support by introducing a resolution authorizing the force, and they are fairly confident it will pass, with the Deputy describing the Government as ‘optimistic.’

“I would note that in the recent unanimous renewal of the authorization to extend the UN mission on the ground in Haiti, we [also] saw unanimous support for language that did endorse the idea of a multinational force and called for a report to lay out options,” she said.

That report will be tabled by August 15 and will help shape the multinational force.  As for how this multi-national force would operate, once it gets into Haiti, that depends on the findings of the Kenyan assessment.  What is certain is that it won’t be on the front lines.

Instead, it will: “Jumpstart the process of improving security in Haiti by sending thousands of additional personnel to secure critical infrastructure sites and thereby allow the Haitian national police to increase their focus on battling gangs.”

Haitian gangs have repeatedly taken control of important infrastructure relating to oil and electricity especially, forcing police to split their efforts to try and reclaim them while engaging in front-line battles with the gangs.

The US maintains it is committed to having Haiti lead on the response.

The Bahamas and Jamaica are among the countries which have also committed troops for the international mission should it be approved.

Staff Writer 

July 31, 2023 – As the world struggles with the warmest temperatures ever recorded, the United Nations has a grim outlook for the future.

“The era of global warming has ended.  The era of global boiling has arrived,” Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, said in a press conference on July 27^th, where he also acknowledged that the speed of the change is “terrifying.”

The UN leader was in receipt of a report from the World Meteorological Organization and Copernicus Climate Change Service, which officially confirmed the last three weeks were the hottest of all time.

“This anomaly is so large with respect to other record-breaking months in our record, that we are virtually certain that the month as a whole, will become the warmest July on record, the warmest month on record, in all likelihood,” Carlo Buentempo, Director of Copernicus Climate Change Service, told the UN via Zoom.

Ocean temperatures are pushing records as well.  Guterres described the consequences as clear and tragic.

“Children swept away by monsoon rains, families running from flames, workers collapsing in scorching heat, and for scientists it is unequivocal, humans are to blame,” he said.

Heat warnings, wildfires and vector-borne diseases have prompted alarm for various international agencies since the beginning of the month, all tied to the rising global temperatures.

Guterres is now calling on the people responsible for the change that is boiling everyone, especially Small Island Developing States, to do their part in combating the disaster.  He fingers the G20 nations, responsible for the vast majority of emissions, and says they must step up for climate justice.

Staff Writer

July 27, 2023 – As the world struggles under a mass of issues, from humanitarian concerns, to war and climate change a message of hope and determination has been shared by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres as he reflects on the life of the late Nelson Mandela shared on international Nelson Mandela Day July 18:

He says “Nelson Mandela was a colossus of courage and conviction.  A leader of immense achievement and extraordinary humanity.”

Today, poverty, hunger and inequality are on the rise.  Countries are drowning in debt.  The climate crisis is destroying the lives of those who have done the least to cause it.  And our unfair and outdated international financial system is not fulfilling its function as a global safety net. We have it in our power to solve each of these problems.

Secretary General Guterres urged world citizens to honor the late Mandela with action to expel the poison of racism, discrimination and hate; extinguish the legacies of colonialism and promote equality, human rights and above all, justice.

Staff Writer

May 5, 2023 – A Committee of the United Nations is urging countries in the Caribbean and Americas to hold off on the expulsion of Haitians who flee to their countries.  This comes out of concern for Haitians who are subject to violence and are forced back to Haïti without proper assessments of their protection needs.

As highlighted by Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General who spoke of Haitians as the victims of one of the worst human rights crises in decades; the 18 Committee experts expressed concern that Haitians are vulnerable to degrading, cruel, and inhumane treatment and racial profiling from law enforcement agencies. Also, they experience excessive force from countries.

The need for the protection of Haitians is seen now more than ever. The gang issue plaguing the country has now led to a 21 percent increase in homicides for the previous quarter, 815 up from 673; as well as 63 percent in kidnappings, 637 up from 391

The call to action referenced the increase in expulsion numbers this year without consideration given to their safety.

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), estimated that 36,000 Haitians were expelled from countries between January and March (90 percent from Dominican Republic) up from 22,000 the same time last year, with about 15,000 from the US.

In a statement on Friday April 28th, 2023, the Committee expressed that countries should take measures to protect “Haitians on the move,” instead of purely negative moves against the refugees.

“Caribbean countries, such as The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, announced repressive measures against undocumented Haitian migrants.” Additionally, the US put in place a plan for the increased expulsion of Haitians  as well as other migrants to Mexico.

Haiti is in need of all the support they can get and as expressed by the UN, that includes being mindful of the urgent need for protection, hence the reason they flee to these countries.

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, April 3, 2023 – April is World Autism Month and April 2nd was celebrated as World Autism Day this year.  This year marks the 16th annual World Autism Awareness Day.

For the 2023 commemoration, the United Nations has decided to focus on Transformation: Toward a Neuro-Inclusive World for All.  They emphasize acceptance, support and inclusivity for autistic students who are just as able to succeed and live fulfilling lives.

For this to happen the UN says parents, policy makers, workplaces must come together to create an accessible world for autistic people.  This ‘ enables autistic people to claim their dignity and self-esteem, and to become fully integrated as valued members of their families and societies.’

The Turks and Caicos Special Needs schools are celebrating during the month as well.

The SNAP Center hosts its reading month series in April which culminates in an award ceremony and Ashley’s Learning Center will host a classical music concert on April 8th where special needs students will have the chance to perform.

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – As the country moves toward new fiber optic connectivity, bridging the digital divide could be a game changer for healthcare and other family-friendly services in the TCI. 

The power of universal digital connectivity across countries was one of the recurring themes when the United Nations in partnership with the Network of Afro Caribbean Women and the Diaspora recently explored how technology, innovation and education are being used to address women’s health issues. 

The session aimed to highlight success stories and  explore how those processes can be replicated to help women and girls globally including in The Turks and Caicos.  

The UN explained that despite holding a 70 percent majority in healthcare jobs, women are poorly represented in leadership roles and subject to systemic gender inequalities that can make receiving healthcare challenging.

As delegates from Chile and Rwanda, who were also partners in the session, shared the upgrades to their countries’ systems that had significantly improved the level of care available to their women, digital connectivity was a deciding factor.

In Rwanda the health ministries have begun to use drones to deliver medicine, SMS messages to alert about health threats and a completely digitized health care that eliminates paper documents for pregnant women and makes records accessible to any doctor,  immediately. 

Rwandan delegate, Rose Rwabuhihi shared tips that countries should keep in mind when trying to implement new processes to benefit women and the wider community.

• Partnership and sustainability are key factors to successful programs. She urged governments not to give up on projects or allow their partners to give up on them halfway.
• Education campaigns to introduce residents to the technology: “We need to build skills and deepen the knowledge so they can use the innovations that have been put in place especially in rural areas.

Poor connectivity and technological issues have plagued the TCI for years especially in the islands outside of Providenciales.  Government has substantially acknowledged this disparity in communications services and is investing in a new undersea cable to augment services in the Turks and Caicos.

The UNs perspectives can now ignite a fire for even more family friendly, digital services.

In fact,Senator Yasna Provoste Campillay, the Chilean Delegate explained how connectivity and videoconferencing had been used to reach the county’s women in the most rural of areas. Chile is a long country, its landmass spread lengthwise creating unique communication challenges. While healthcare in Chile is separated by length the Turks and Caicos islands are disconnected by the ocean and solutions that prove useful for the South American country could well be worth implementing  locally. 

Staff writer 

#March 9, 2023 – It’s time for richer nations to fork over billions for developing nations, says Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General as he calls for support for a new $500 billion dollar plan.

“Least Developed Countries need a revolution of support across three key areas. First — they need immediate assistance to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals.” He maintained speaking at the recent opening of the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Doha, Qatar.

Guterres unveiled a plan, the Doha Programmes of Action (DPOA), that would see the least developed countries get a share of that $500 billion on an annual basis.

The plan also guides LDCs on the best way to hit the Sustainable Development Goals with ‘concrete targets and deliverables.’

The aim of the plan is to provide LDCs with the monetary and technical support that they need to fast track their development.

“Least Developed Countries also need funding and support —To massively invest in manufacturing and technological capabilities, and better infrastructure and transportation networks.  To give women a seat at the decision-making tables of government, business and civic life.  To invest in education and training to generate a highly skilled workforce.” He maintained that the plan was a practical guide to all of these issues.

He also maintained that the three part plan would only cost the coalition of richer nations .15 – .20 percent of their Gross National Income, but the fiscal injection would be a life changing sum for LDCs.

#TurksandCaicos, March 9, 2023 – Throughout the world, women’s rights continue to make significant advances and the Turks and Caicos Islands is no exception.

In 1910 Clara Zetkin recommended March 8^th, as a date for celebrating the achievements of working women at the International Socialist Women’s Conference in Copenhagen, and women have been celebrated every March 8th since then.

This year marks the 28^th Anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which the United Nations (UN) considers to be a progressive road map for gender equality.

The UN observance of IWD recognizes and celebrates the women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education and curtailing the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities.

In the Turks and Caicos Islands, women have undoubtedly made their mark in leadership, politics, administration, the justice system as well as in the medical field. Today, women continue to penetrate different industries and are now making their mark in innovation and technology, an area which was once male dominated.

The Turks and Caicos Islands celebrates the women in innovation and technology who are creating a path for young girls and other women and are successfully demonstrating that women can do it all.

In light of this year’s theme the Commission draws your attention to our very own women in innovation and technology.

Giselle James-Wright, is employed with Digicel as Switch Engineer/Mobile Operations Manager. She currently works on the Mobile Switching Centre and other cellular mobile platforms, as well as provide administrative support to the operations of the Mobile Operations and Maintenance/Radio Access Network Team.

Carmaine Ariza, is employed with the Turks and Caicos Islands Government as an Application Support Specialist. Ms. Ariza has over a decade of experience in information technology. She specializes in administrative product training and is responsible for assisting and educating users on using progressive systems and applications as well as troubleshooting application problems.

Kebba Thomas, has worked in information technology for over two decades and is the only female in the IT Department at Fortis TCI. Mrs. Thomas is employed as the Senior IT Officer and has been in the post for over nine years. One of her main responsibilities is to provide support for the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) environment that helps to manage and monitor the equipment that generate, transmit and distribute energy.

Yolande Robinson, Yolande Robinson is a trained Kindergarten and Elementary School teacher and the owner of Learn and Lead Education Centre. She uses technology to deepen the learner’s experience. She has worked in the field of education for over 20 years and knows that for all learners to excel there needs to be multiple approaches. Technology is a tool that Yolande uses as a bridge to facilitate learners from where they are to where they need to be. At Learn and Lead, educational resources are used to aid in intervention with children. In training and coaching, Yolande uses multimedia experiences to facilitate a deeper connection to the material being learned. Her gift to educate, inspire and empower individuals has been heard over the airwaves on positive parenting and teaching techniques, and on podcast episodes that have challenged us all to shift perspective.

When asked about the importance of technology, Yolande states, “I don’t know what I would do without it! Technology makes my work come alive. It helps me move from the vision that I have to the products and experiences I provide.”

Cathrice James-Williams, is the Director of Information Technology at the Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission and has over two decades in the field of IT. Mrs. James-Williams is a certified Cyber Risk Specialist and owns and operates her own business, Techprise Learning Solutions, where she helps companies automate their processes and provide cyber awareness training. Cathrice, won the Woman in Technology and Engineering Award in 2020 for her outstanding achievements in technology and engineering.

Barbara Ambrister, is a well-seasoned Information Technology Specialist with more than three decades of service in the industry under her belt. Her extensive work in IT began in the Bahamas where she was the Director of Information Technology at the College of The Bahamas. Here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, she was the IT Manager for the National Health Insurance Board where she was responsible for the implementation, system development and design. She was also the Vice President for Information Technology at IBG Bank where her responsibilities included but not limited to oversight of physical infrastructure, installed and managed all facets of banking software and system security. She is currently the Chair for the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, a Pastor and Author. Mrs. Ambrister is also the owner or Innovative Consultancy Services.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Human Rights Commission recognises that significant progress has been made in terms of gender equality throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands but that there is more work to be done to achieve an equal and enabled society.  Today we to encourage women in leadership to empower each other and to provide a seat at the table where barriers to all industries are non-existent for women and girls.

Happy International Women’s Day!!!!

Staff Writer

March 1, 2023 – UN Secretary General António Guterres is slamming oil companies for their immoral actions and profiteering in 2022 and calling for taxes to be levied against them; the top companies cumulatively racked in nearly $200 billion in profits.

In 2022, the biggest oil companies in the world raked in such exorbitant amounts of cash that it  tipped them all into their most profitable year in history. While this was happening UK families slumped into energy debt unable to pay their bills as winter approached with the possibility of no heating; prices at the US pumps reached incredible highs, up to $5 per gallon which customers had to absorb; and Caribbean electricity and gas prices sent governments scrambling to subsidize electricity bills in order to support citizens.

Guterres said: “I urge governments to tax these excessive profits, and use the funds to support the most vulnerable people through these difficult times.”

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent banning of Russian oil from most of the west coupled with extended supply chain disruptions caused the cost upsurge and oil companies and their shareholders made billions while residents suffered.  The five major producers made a combined profit of $196.3 billion dollars last year sparking accusations of profiteering and calls for harsher taxes.

American company Exxon Mobil more than doubled making a $56 billion profit, a record number, never before seen outside of eastern oil conglomerates; British owned Shell made the highest profit in its history also doubling its 2021 profit, putting them 40 billion dollars in the black; French Total Energies doubled its profit margins making $36.2 billion; American owned Chevron made 35.5 billion; and British owned BP made 28 billion.

Some of the companies including Exxon are also being criticized for paying out massive increases to shareholders rather than increasing production of oil to help lower costs. The UN had also warned that the rising costs could potentially price out many developing countries, especially the most vulnerable communities, from energy markets.

Staff Writer

#Ukraine, February 28, 2023 – Exactly a year ago Vladimir Putin appeared on Russian television and announced that he was launching a ‘special military operation’ into Ukraine.   As the Russian Invasion enters its second year we look back on the ripple effects felt around the world.

Ukraine 

In the early weeks after the invasion residents began to flee en masse.  The crush included students from across the globe, expatriate workers and citizens.  Reports of racism against people of colour at the borders began to emerge. Neighbouring countries faithfully kept their borders open and people were allowed to leave as quickly as their legs could take them. Many walked hundreds of miles as cars ran out of gas and traffic made vehicular escape impossible. Behind them, the fighting began in earnest.

As of February 14th 8.1 million refugees have left the country, which is a crippling 20 per cent of the population lost. The UN says 21 thousand of civilians have been killed or injured so far.

Russia 

After the war began Russia was hit with sanctions left and right by the EU, the United States and their allies. Retailers, restaurant chains, tech companies, luxury goods stores and more pulled out of the country en masse. Russian athletes were blacklisted from sporting events including tennis and countries are calling for their athletes to be banned from the 2024 Olympics.

Censorship in the country has become increasingly harsh and the divide between those who support the war and those who don’t is a hard line with coworkers and schoolmates reportedly turning in others deemed as traitors or dissidents to the Kremlin (the government of the Russain Federation), resulting in long jail sentences for journalists and even teenagers. Russia is estimated to have lost as many as 60 thousand soldiers with 200 thousand wounded or dead.

Europe and the UK

A 3D-printed oil pump jack is seen in front of displayed OPEC logo in this illustration picture, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

At the beginning of the war after placing sanctions on the country and its oligarchs, Washington pushed for sanctions on its oil and energy, a tricky position for the EU which then bought the majority of its oil and gas from Russia.  After much infighting, the countries agreed to ban the purchase of certain Russian energy and promised to wean themselves off the stuff by the end of 2023.  Russia was quick to retaliate; it instituted a new law instructing all of the ‘unfriendly countries’ to pay for their oil in rubles, a move the EU described as blackmail. After that, citing pipeline issues it turned off the gas supply to several countries including Germany forcing them into crisis mode and prompting blackouts to preserve power as they scrambled to find new energy supplies.

In the UK gas prices reached record highs forcing the government to provide multimillion-dollar relief.

Africa 

The effects of the invasion on Africa are as varied as the countries on the continent.

Most African nations have refused to outright denounce the war as the conflicts in their own countries are relegated to the back page.

In North Africa where wheat produced in Russia and Ukraine is essential, the prices of bread basket items rose exponentially.  Areas like Ethiopia and Somalia saw 66 per cent and 36 per cent jumps respectively according to the UN, furthering a food crisis affecting millions with malnourished children dying daily.  In other parts of Africa, lucrative oil deals were signed as the EU struggled to keep the lights on.  Algeria, Senegal, Angola, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria all reached deals with the EU or specific countries to supply gas.

Most recently South Africa participated in a military drill with Russia and China that fell on the anniversary of the invasion.

The Caribbean 

With the fighting far away, the effects felt in the Caribbean were mostly economical.  With the supply chain in disarray, food prices shot up to extreme highs and oil prices followed; electricity bills caused panic.  Inflation driven by the conflict wrecked the purchasing power of Caribbean residents who already pay higher prices for goods and governments were forced to implement relief measures including stimulus cheques and price caps.

The UN warned that interest rate hikes implemented in the US, UK and other large economies to curb inflation would reverberate hardest in the Caribbean and other Small Island Developing States (which did nothing to slow them down).

Russia also took shots at some countries directly listing the Turks and Caicos and 10 other UK overseas territories as well as The Bahamas as ‘unfriendly territories’.

The US 

The US-Russia relationship has deteriorated significantly since the beginning of the conflict with the two countries declaring each other as enemies in everything but name. A tense prisoner exchange in late 2022 is as close as the two have gotten to publicly negotiating in the past year.

The country is Ukraine’s biggest patron sending billions and billions of dollars’ worth of weaponry and humanitarian aid to the country.

The war may drag on but the hope globally is that it will end soon as risks of further economic shock; and the displacement, assault and murder of innocents, loom on the horizon.