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Progress on the proposed $1m floating dock for Grand Turk still looms in the balance 

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#TurksandCaicos, January 23, 2023 – The lack of a public dock and a proper working ramp in the vicinity of the carnival cruise ship port,  has been a source of contention for boat tours operators and local fishermen for years.

What residents thought was a breakthrough with the government announcement of a proposed $1m floating dock, appears to have loss its steam.

As our tourism industry grows, there is a greater need for more safeguards and resources to be put in place to help support tour operators and protect the tourism products that we so desperately depend on.

It’s imperative that the government address these issues in a wholesome way to include input from relevant stakeholders.

Many citizens are of the view that in order to build stronger public/private partnerships, whenever extraordinary decisions are made that can affect an entire industry, the point of view from various stakeholders of that industry should always be considered.

Unfortunately, there is more and more evidence that the local water-sports and land tour operators are being put in a less competitive position and disadvantaged in an industry that was created to support the residents of Grand Turk and Salt Cay and not just Carnival cruise lines.

That is the premise of this article and the story must be told.

The most pressing issue impacting the Watersports operators is not the fact that we do not have a floating dock, but the lack of a proper working ramp to launch and pull up our vessels. There are other pending issues, but if the boat operators can get movement on this particular item it will serve the residents well.

I believe its an important piece of infrastructure that is desperately needed on the island. It will put boat operators in a better position to support the tourism product, proper boat maintenance, in addition to cutting the absorbent cost associated with launching and removal of vessels.

During the latter part of 2021, the government proposed $1m to build a floating dock within the vicinity of Carnival cruise port. To my knowledge, as of this date, no further information or discussion was released to the public.

Below is a list of reasons for our concerns as it relates to this matter.

  1. The current condition and accessibility of the existing ramp located at south base is not fit for use.
  2. It will allow boat tour operators, local fishermen and casual boat users easier access to properly maintaining their vessels.
  3. It will ease the financial burden for so many of us as the associated cost to launch and remove vessels is well over $200.
  4. It will minimize damages caused to vessels during transit due to the build-up of uncontrollable sand dunes and a lack of the proper equipment being used.
  5. The police dock located at north creek is not practical or conducive to small business operators depending on the cruising industry to make an honest living. In addition, during inclement weather, entering and exiting north creek could be treacherous and at times boat operators cannot exit the channel. This could impact the tourism experience if vessels are unavailable for pre-booked tours in addition to causing loss revenue.

Recommendations and Solutions:

  1. At this given time a proper ramp is more practical than a floating dock.
  2. Recommended location for a permanent not a the floating dock should be at Governor’s beach. Partial infrastructure is already there as it was previously used by the US Navy. In addition, the access lane is already in place.
  3. Another alternative would be to extend and enhance the Salt Cay dock for public use.
  4. Equip dock with lights and running water for proper use and maintenance of vessels or search and rescue operations.
  5. Repair and enhance the existing public ramp located at south base.
  6. Repair the roads leading to and from all docks and ramps.

Development within a Park, by ordinance, is acceptable if it benefits the general public.  I think a proper public ramp or dock on the western shores would fit that bill and the boaters have certainly made a compelling argument.

I often marvel that it took successive Governments no time to come up with finding funds to remove the old steamer on Governor’s beach, but it’s taking years to provide a needed resource to support the tourism industry which Grand Turk boat operators and local fishermen primarily depends on.

It will take high level and bureaucratic commitment to move this forward.

Nevertheless, boat operators are optimistic that change will come someday. We look forward to a favorable outcome where we can all work together in unison for the betterment of this great country.

 

Ed Forbes

Concerned citizen of Grand Turk 

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Trinidad & Tobago Emancipation Day Marked with Major Events Attended by Prime Minister and other Dignitaries

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#TrinidadandTobago, August 11, 2023 – Prime Minister Dr the Hon Keith Rowley and Mrs Sharon Rowley attended the Distinguished Open Lecture by His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, The Asantehene at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus last evening (Thursday 3rd August, 2023).

The Asantehene is the Guest of Honour in commemoration of this country’s 2023 Emancipation celebrations.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Member of Parliament for Tunapuna, the Hon. Esmond Forde, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Senator the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, the Hon. Camille Robinson-Regis, Minister of Education, Dr. the Hon. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister in the Ministry of Education, the Hon. Lisa Morris-Julian, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, Professor Mark Wuddivira and Lecturer Department of History, Dr. Debbie Mc Collin were also in attendance at yesterday’s lecture.

Prime Minister Dr the Hon Keith Rowley and Mrs Sharon Rowley also visited the Desperadoes Pan Theatre at George Street, Port of Spain last evening (Wednesday 2nd August, 2023).

Dr Rowley welcomed His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, The Asantehene and his delegation to the pan theatre where His Majesty was treated to various aspects of Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival which culminated in a performance by the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra and a demonstration on the playing of the national instrument for the Asantehene.

“They now see Africa, not through European eyes, as a dark continent, but as the cradle of human civilisation, citing the discoveries of its great empires. They talk of it glowingly, as the world’s fastest developing economic region in the 21st century, having just overtaken Asia, and of its six of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world and of its minerals, critical and indispensable to the technologies of the 21st century green economies.

Today, recognising the pain of the Middle Passage, and the centuries of colonial brutality, I salute the African community, a people, who through grit and determination, is on the march, striving for further discovery and self-realisation, searching, and transforming themselves for the challenges of the 21st century.

Let us all reflect and educate ourselves as we celebrate African Emancipation Day 2023.”

 

Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley

Prime Minister of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

on the occasion of Emancipation Day 2023

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Roadmap to Int’l Intervention in Haiti spelled out by Feinstein, US Official for Caribbean Affairs

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Dana Malcolm 

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.

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Jamaica Prepared to Deploy Troops to Haiti

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#Kingston, August 11, 2023 – Jamaica is prepared to deploy troops to Haiti as part of a multinational response to deteriorating security conditions in the French-speaking island.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, gave the commitment while responding to questions during the quarterly press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister on August 3.

Prime Minister Holness said that Jamaica remains devoted to playing its part in restoring peace and stability in Haiti.

He noted that Jamaica was the first country to “step out to say that we would be prepared to offer assistance to Haiti in terms of security and humanitarian assistance”.

We analysed the situation to the point where we thought indirect assistance would not be enough; there would have to be a security force support for the people of Haiti,” he pointed out.

“Clearly, Jamaica could not take the lead on this. We don’t have the resources even though we have the support, the ambition, the will and we stand as always in solidarity with the people of Haiti,” the Prime Minister noted.

Mr. Holness said that Jamaica is using its good offices and is working through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to ensure that the stakeholders in Haiti continue to speak to and lobby the international community for support.

The Government of Kenya has offered to send 1,000 police officers to Haiti and lead a multinational force to support the efforts of the police in quelling escalating violence caused by armed gangs.

United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has welcomed Kenya’s readiness to help and has encouraged other countries, particularly within the Caribbean, to join the effort.

“The question is, are we sending troops to Haiti? Yes, but an important caveat is that we just can’t, on our own, as I have said, get up and send troops.

“We just don’t have the resources but even so, even if we did, you want to have an international imprimatur and our commitment has always been with the appropriate jurisdictional arrangement, meaning a [United Nations] Security Council resolution. It is the same for Kenya and when I spoke with President Kagame, it was the same requirement for him as well,” Prime Minister Holness said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister pointed out that the deployment of Jamaican troops to the CARICOM Member State would not negatively impact the security response capability locally.

“We certainly can’t go up to the 1,000 troops that has been suggested in the media for the Kenyans, but we will give what we can.

“Whatever we do cannot impact in a negative way our own security challenges here. But as a sovereign nation we look at all threats to our stability and security and we act preemptively and strategically to ensure that we have capabilities to deal with those threats,” he noted.

 

Contact: Chris Patterson

Release: JIS

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