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NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
June 18 - 24, 2016
Students raised the bar at this year’s GSAT- Education Minister BY OLIVIA ROSE THREE hundred and thirteen students obtained fifty percent or higher in this year`s, Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). This announcement was made on Thursday June, 16 by the Deputy Premier and Minister of Education Akierra Missick in the House of Assembly. Missick told the house that a total of 417 students representing the ten public primary schools and eleven private primary schools in the Turks and Caicos Islands, wrote the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) on May 25 and 26, 2016. The test consisted of five papers: English Language Paper 1, English Language Paper 2, Mathematics, Science and the General Paper. Students were required to obtain an overall average of 50% percent from a total of five hundred and twenty five (525) marks. A media release from the Ministry, noted that the 2016 results indicate that the students collectively achieved 75.1% a rise in the pass rate from 2015 which was 72.1%. The Education Minister expressed satisfaction with the overall performance of the students who sat the examination and lauded their efforts. She said:“It is a clear indication that our primary school age students are continuously raising the bar in their academic achievements; but with a near 3% percent increase in a 12 month period, also indicates we have the best educators in the region, if not the world.
“I am very pleased with these results and note that more work will be done by the Department of Education and our school administrators, to ensure each year we have such stellar increases in passes at GSAT. “Once again, congratulations are in order to all the students, their schools administration and staff, and of course the parents who assisted with preparing our students who sat and passed the exams and we wish them the best as they move into their High School career.” The Minister also, encouraged those students who were unsuccessful in passing their GSAT, to not be discouraged, and urged parents to meet with teachers
to identify areas of weakness so that a plan of action for “Success at GSAT” can be put in place to ensure every child is afforded every opportunity to transition to High School. It was noted that the top three positions in the four subjects were shared among male and female students representing public and private schools.
Deputy Premier and Minister of Education Akierra Missick
A LIST OF THE TOP STUDENTS FOR THIS YEAR IS BELOW: The top ten averages, range from 86.48% to 90.29% and is equally shared between male and female students representing private and public schools:
1 Sambuta-Jahtee Meier - Precious Treasures 2 Britney Gardiner - Adelaide Oemler Primaries 3 Michaella Archille - Oseta Jolly Primaries 4 Jarius Robinson - Richmond Hill Preparatory 5 Ashley Archibald - Shining Stars Preparatory 6 Kyfani Campbell - Eliza Simons Primary 7 Syr.D’Anjhu Steward - Precious Treasures 8 Naethia Williams - Ona Glinton Primary 9 Arquino St. Paul - Oseta Jolly Primary 10 Shandia Gardiner - Providence International School
Illegal beach vending and littering a major tourism concern BY OLIVIA ROSE ILLEGAL beach vending and littering are some of the major issues affecting the tourism product in the nation’s capital, Grand Turk. These issues were highlighted in the House of Assembly on Monday June 13, when the Deputy Speaker of the House, Josephine Connolly questioned the latest decline in the country`s ratings which took a significant dive from being number
Published by Turks & Caicos News Company Ltd. Cheshire House, Leeward Highway, Providenciales P.O. Box 52, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI W. Blythe Duncanson - Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Daisy Handfield - Staff Reporter Faizool Deo - Sports Editor (At Large) Cord Garrido-Lowe - Graphics Consultant (At Large) Dilletha Lightbourne-Williams - Office Manager Email: (Advertising) tcnews@tciway.tc, (News) tcweeklynews@gmail.com Tel. 649-946-4664 (office), 649-232-3508 (after hours) Website address: www.tcweeklynews.com Follow us on: Facebook: facebook.com/tcweeklynews Twitter: twitter.com/tcweeklynews1
one to number four. She said: “This government took over a tourists` product which was the best in the world; this led to increased tourists’ numbers and increasing financial revenues, which this government has taken credit for. But under the guardianship of this government our tourists’ ratings have fallen dramatically. “One (reason) is the harassment of tourists by beach vendors. We have a regulatory framework for businesses, and it is the business license ordinance. Why is it not being enforced.” The Deputy Speaker`s comments sparked a heated debate among several members of the House, who were eager to give their two cents on the issue. Minister of Tourism Porsha Stubb-Smith said the Government is aware of the issue and is actively engaging key stakeholders to address the problem.
Grand Turk Cruise Center
She said: “Turks and Caicos Islands is still number one, we just received an award from global travelers award while we were on the premier`s promotional tour for number one beach. “And we are continuously receiving honorable mentions and accolades throughout the world as we have seen this weekend by our junior chiefs.” Minister of Natural resources George Lightbourne in his response to the Deputy Speaker’s remarks noted that the Government is making a concerted effort to address the issue. He said Government is assiduously working on legislation that will standardize beach vendors. “This Government is currently in the process of trying to put a structure together to manage the beach vendors. I want the public to know that we support beach vending, we do not support harassing. If
Deputy Speaker of the House, Josephine Connolly
they are harassing the guests then I appeal to them on a daily basis, do not harass the guests. Allow them to come to you. “You can advertise your business without harassing people. But to ask this Government to get rid of beach vendors, I will have a problem.”