12 NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
December 14 – 20, 2013
Goodbye to a father of the world – Politicians mourn death of Nelson Mandela LEADERS of the country’s Government and Opposition expressed their mutual sadness this week following the death of Nelson Mandela. South Africa’s first black president and anti-apartheid icon died on Thursday, December 5, aged 95. On Tuesday (December 10) the Turks and Caicos Islands national flag at the offices of the Governor and the Premier was flown at half-mast. And at 9am at the Premier’s Office in Providenciales Governor Peter Beckingham, Premier Rufus Ewing and other members of Cabinet led a moment of silence to show their respect. Last Friday (December 6) the two leading parties issued statements expressing their remorse at Mandela’s death and offered condolences to his family. Premier Rufus Ewing said the world had lost a great man. “Every once in a while through circumstance and divine intervention a Great One emerges to change the course of history and transform the lives of people for the better, Nelson ‘Madiba’ Mandela was such a Great One. “A son of the South African soil but a father of the world, Nelson Mandela fought both peaceful and violently for what he believed in and was relentless in his pursuit for freedom. “Nothing good in life comes easy or without a struggle, Mandela gave up his freedom, being incarcerated for 27 years, to secure and ensure the freedom of others; not only the freedom of South Africans oppressed by apartheid but the freedom and hope of every person in the world to whom injustice was metered out. “Nelson Mandela will be remembered by millions now and millions in the future as he had changed the lives of many, even those unborn.”
Nelson Mandela died on Thursday, December 5, aged 95
Ewing described an encounter with Nelson Mandela at the National Stadium in Jamaica in July 1991 just one year after he was released from prison. “I could remember that day as if was just yesterday,” he said. “Even though the distance between us was a few yards, it seemed as if I was in his front of his face and he was speaking to me and me alone as every word he said was transformative and motivating as I listened in awe.” He continued: “The world will remember him as a man with morale and compassion for human dignity, the world will remember him as a warrior, a peace maker, a president, a Noble Prize winner, a husband and a father to all.” The Premier extended his condolences to the Mandela family on behalf of the Government and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Also on Friday Leader of the Opposition Sharlene CartwrightRobinson said that Thursday would be remembered as the day the world suffered a great human loss as well as the beginning of a period
of celebration, great reflection and introspection. In a press release she described Mandela as a man of vision and purpose who understood the importance of remaining focused on the greater cause despite distractions and the greatest atrocities. “He taught through his life the importance of love and forgiveness even for those who attempted to destroy him and break his spirit. “His death reminds us of the great lessons his life has taught and it ought to inspire us to stand firm and fight for the causes that will make our individual countries and world better.” Cartwright-Robinson stressed the importance of keeping Mandela’s family and the South African people in prayer as they mourn their loss. “While Mandela set out only to affect his nation, he ended up inspiring his country and the world,” she said. “A great warrior now given a well-deserved rest. A great human loss, but his spirit and inspiration for the attainment of peace and freedom will forever live on.” Born in 1918, Nelson Mandela went on to study law and was the only native African student at the University of Witwatersrand. He joined the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League in 1943 and campaigned against apartheid or white-only rule. In 1962 he was arrested, convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the state, and sentenced to life imprisonment. An international campaign lobbied for his release and he was freed 27 years later in 1990 as South Africa began to move away from racial segregation. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and was elected South Africa’s first black president in 1994. He stepped down after one term of five years in office.
TCI to contribute cash to University of the West Indies A PROPOSAL to become a contributing country to the University of the West Indies (UWI) that would see local students benefitting from reduced rates at the institution was met with approval from Cabinet. Premier Rufus Ewing submitted a report to members at the last Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (December 11) for the Turks and Caicos Islands to apply to UWI for contributing country status. “This will enable students on Government scholarships as well as self-funded students from the Turks and Caicos Islands to benefit from reduced rates that are offered to contributing countries. “TCI is probably the last Englishspeaking [Caribbean] country that will be become a contributing country to UWI,” Ewing said during a press conference on Thursday. The Ministry of Education has been granted approval to submit the application. Speaking on the issue, Education Minister, Akierra Missick noted that the TCI has always enjoyed a good relationship with UWI which has campuses in Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados.
“In essence there is a sliding scale - depending on the economy of the contributing territory or the number of students that would be utilising the services at any one of the three campuses – which would determine the amount of money we would be required to pay.” She added that the contribution would be a lump sum payment every year which will go towards the operations of the institutions. Asked what this figure would be, the minister said they do not know as yet, but that they do not anticipate it being over $50,000. “We are kind of estimating well below that, given that our numbers at this university are very small but that may increase as the years go by.” The contribution, she added, would be included in the yearly budget. Missick noted that in terms of the benefits to TCI, students will benefit from substantially reduced tuition fees. “So that would allow us to put a target number of students we would like to send to any of the three campuses so that we can ensure there are more opportunities for our
people to receive tertiary education in a complement of subject areas.” The minister also advised that students currently attending any of the UWI campuses would also benefit from the discount the TCI would receive. “It helps too with our national scholars; we have a very limited pot which we are allowed each year for scholarships, but those self-funded students would be able to benefit from this discount as well. She observed that even though there has been a drastic move to the United States for tertiary level education, UWI can hold its own against any university in the world. Most notable among the UWI alumni is Premier Rufus Ewing. The university has also laid the educational foundation of several notable personalities in the TCI, such as Ariel Misick QC, Clayton Greene, Opposition Leader Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, Delton Jones, Edgar Howell and Dr Marcia Bassett, among several others. In September five young TC Islanders left for UWI’s Mona Campus in Jamaica to study medicine. (DI)
The Governor joins leading politicians in a moment of silence at the Premier’s Office in Providenciales
Mandela then became South Africa’s highest profile ambassador campaigning to rid the world of HIV and Aids and speaking out against
war. He died on December 5 at his home in Johannesburg after suffering from a lung infection. (RB)
Students to be educated on human rights BY DAISY HANDFIELD HUMAN rights will be taught to students as early as primary school level from next year. The news was relayed by chairman of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), Doreen Quelch-Missick on Tuesday (November 10) during the grand opening ceremony of the organisation’s new building, located beside the Islandcom headquarters at Graceway IGA. Quelch-Missick said that they were in the process of putting together their proposal so that human rights could be taught at the schools under the topic social services. “So even with our children facing disabilities…we work very closely with them and try to assist them with ensuring that children with disabilities can too receive the dignity and respect as all the other children running up and down.” This was the first year that the Human Rights Commission joined the world on the international celebration of Human Rights under the theme, ‘Knowing your rights through education’, and Quelch-Missick said that there will be many more years. The chairman said that other objectives included bringing awareness to the community about their basic human rights, dedication to upholding the principals of human rights, facilitating a positive relationship between Government and individuals, ensuring that the internationally proclaimed standards are protected in law and practice, eliminating discrimination and providing protection for all of the people living in the Turks and Caicos Islands. When HRC member, Sophie Stanbrook took the podium, she said that each individual could make a difference, and referred to deceased and former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. She said: “This individual power is greater than it has ever been in our history because we are instantly connected to billions of
people around the planet. “You and I can make a difference, our tiny nation of the Turks and Caicos Islands can make a difference and be an example to all who look at us, to be an example to those who visit our shores, through good governance and through the principals of declaration of human rights.” She left the audience with a very popular Mandela quote: “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. “People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than it’s opposite.” Governor Peter Beckingham spoke on the issues of inequality and inhumane activities still happening in the world. He said that he witnessed instances of human rights being abused in many countries in the Middle East. Premier Ewing reiterated what the chairman and the Governor said about preserving human rights. He said: “The respect and preservation of human dignity are indeed the hallmark and core elements of a progressive nation, and today we consider ourselves as being advanced and civilised in progressing when we respect human dignity and promote human rights.” He said that his Government is committed to ensuring that human rights was one of their key focuses of good governance. Remarks were also brought by HRC member, Carl Simmons; former Member of Parliament and Minister for Human Services, Lillian Boyce and President of Soroptimist Club, Rachel Taylor. In attendance also was the Governor’s wife Jill Beckingham along with Government and nongovernment organisations. Students from the Enid Capron Primary School steel pan band wowed the audience with their musical skills and Donnessia Gardiner brought pleasant sounds when she took the podium and sang the national anthem.