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Parents, Students Welcome Swiss Educators

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Photo 8Bahamas, February 28, 2017 – Nassau – With a population of eight million and no natural resources, Switzerland turned its attention to education, became a world leader and last week opened the doors to more Bahamians benefiting from the unique Swiss education experience when educators from some of the country’s most elite schools met with teachers, counselors, parents and students in Nassau.


Photo 7“We received such a warm welcome everywhere we went,”
said Tanya Espinosa Feuz, the Nassau-based volunteer representative of SwissLearning, an association of one dozen leading boarding schools and hospitality training institutes.  “The level of interest among Bahamian parents was great and demonstrated how much emphasis parents in The Bahamas place on providing the best education possible for their children especially if that education offers an opportunity for broader exposure to other languages and cultures.”

 
Photo 5At Windsor Academy where more than 150 students attended an assembly to learn more about what Swiss schools offered, questions ranged from how close they were to good ski slopes to whether you could study coding and robotics.   For the visiting educators, Windsor was an eye-opener.   When they asked students if they knew someone who went to boarding school, nearly every hand in the room shot up.

“Parents want the best for their children and if that means one year or more away to prepare them for university, they will often sacrifice to make sure that their daughter or son gets that experience and preparation,” said Espinosa-Feuz.

According to Nathalie Eynard of Le Rosey in Rolle, Switzerland – known as the School of Kings — diversity is key whether in places of origin or area of study.

Photo 9“We have 68 nationalities represented,” Eynard told students. “And at any given time, we have an average of 50 in every grade level. Most importantly, it is not simply where students are from that creates the experience, but that we provide an atmosphere for them to decide and focus on what they really want to do whether that is making movies or studying law.”

International exposure and friendships are a major component adding to the appeal of a Swiss education, with former students from The Bahamas saying they have kept in touch for decades and the friends they made during their days in Switzerland have opened many doors.

Swiss Learning at Windsor PrepFor high school students who look to Switzerland for at least a part of their education, spending a gap year – the year between finishing high school and starting college – offers the opportunity to improve college entrance exam performance while discovering what they want to study as they move forward. Gap year and hotel management programs place emphasis on a few key features — learning other languages, work experience and trips to destinations as distant as Africa to participate in charitable endeavors.   Languages are a vital part of every curriculum, including month-long summer camps at several of the boarding schools.

Photo 6SwissLearning founder Christophe Xavier Clivaz told students that one of the greatest benefits of a Swiss education is to “find a talent you never knew you had but once you find it, it can now change your life.”

Students whistled appreciatively when they heard Switzerland ranked as the most innovative country in the world.   But they also wanted to know along with languages, academics and hospitality, what sports were offered and which schools were in the best skiing areas.

“We have skiing, at some of the schools every day,” said Clivaz. “We have cricket on ice, ice hockey, mountaineering, climbing, hiking, sailing on lakes, we have just about every sport there is except scuba diving because the one thing we don’t have is coral reefs.”

Photo 2During their whirlwind trip, Swiss educators paid a courtesy call on Governor General Lady Marguerite Pindling, met with Ministry of Education officials Monique Hinsey and Reginald Saunders, visited several schools and hosted a presentation and reception at Old Fort Bay Club that drew more 120 persons.

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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REGULATIONS INTRODUCES “RATE YOUR RIDE” SYSTEM FOR TOURISTS VISITING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March, 2024 – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Department of Tourism Regulations is proud to unveil the “Rate Your Ride” system, a new initiative designed to enhance the vacation experience for tourists exploring our picturesque islands.

The “Rate Your Ride” system empowers tourists to provide valuable feedback on the quality of transportation services they receive while visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through an easy-to-use online form, tourists can rate factors such as cleanliness, comfort, safety, and professionalism of drivers, helping us to assure the highest quality of service standards across all modes of transportation.

By participating in the “Rate Your Ride” system, tourists play a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation services in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Their feedback will enable us to identify areas for improvement and ensure that every visitor enjoys safe, comfortable, and convenient travel throughout their stay in the Turks and Caicos.

The code will also be publicly accessible through the cooperation of volunteer drivers who will make the rating code available in their vehicles. Flyers and stickers displaying the code will be distributed at hotels, resorts and airports. The mandated display of these codes is expected to align with the rollout of our tourism regulations in 2025.

For more information about the “Rate Your Ride” system and other initiatives by the Department of Tourism Regulations, please visit gov.tc/tourismregulations/or contact us via telephone at 946-4970 and email at tourismregulations@gov.tc.

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THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH SERVICES CONDEMNS RECORDING OF PERSONS WHO ARE IN CRISIS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March 2024– The Department of Behavioral Health Services is appealing to the general public to refrain from recording and circulating videos of persons who may appear to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis at some point in their life. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Persons may struggle with very common conditions such as Anxiety and Depression or be diagnosed with more serious conditions like Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings about various mental health conditions and how they may manifest. In addition, there are a number of negative perceptions and misconceptions that society exhibits towards people with mental health problems. However, just as we would show care and concern for someone diagnosed with Cancer, or any other physical illness, in the same way, we need to be as caring and helpful to persons with mental illnesses”– stated Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Alicia Malcolm.

The Department is urging the public to call the following numbers if you see someone who appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis:

338-5473/338-3616: Providenciales, North or Middle Caicos

338-3614/338-3612: Grand Turk, South Caicos, Salt Cay

338-6301: Nights and Weekends

If someone is putting themselves or someone else in immediate, serious risk of harm, call 911.

The Department of Behavioral Health services is here to help and provides the following services which are free and confidential:

Location of above services:

o             Sam Harvey Building, Down Town, Providenciales,

o             Primary Health Care Department, Cheshire Hall Medical Center, Providenciales 

o             Department of Behavioural Health, Duncombe Alley, Grand Turk

 

Let’s all do our part in creating a community where people with mental health problems feel respected, supported and cared for. 

For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/ or the Department of Behavioral Health Services Faceebook on https://www.facebook.com/TCIDBHS/.

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Breaking Ground: TCI Could Lead in Regional Communication Standards

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Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, 27th March 2024: The PR, marketing, and communications sector is poised for potential growth and could lead the Caribbean region in terms of industry standards says Damian Wilson. Wilson’s suggestion comes after the release of a new research report into the current trends and future direction of the sector as a possible emerging industry in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

Wilson is the report’s author, which conveys the findings of research which he initiated. “One of the key research results is the considerable optimism by industry practitioners and government alike, with persons seeing growth potential. I believe that we can become regional leaders in this field. I believe that one of the initiatives that could be used to do this is by establishing a ‘TCI Centre of Communications Excellence’ within the TCI Community College. Such an institute would be dedicated to communication and media innovation with a particular focus on digital communications and ICT,” says Wilson.

He further explained, “I believe that the PR, marketing, and communications sector, like much of the country, is at a crossroads and could have an even greater impact on our socio-economic fabric. Some may have concerns about our small size, but I believe this makes us far more agile than our neighbours. All in all, any potential growth must be underpinned by new investments, professional development, and a strategy to integrate the sector into the broader economy.”

Wilson also said that he sees his research as a first step in understanding our own industry sectors in the TCI and would love to see more profound research and analysis conducted. He’s hoping that the report will spark discussion along those lines. The report is entitled ‘Current Trends and Future Direction: A Preliminary Report on the PR, Marketing, and Communications Sector in the Turks & Caicos Islands’. Anyone wanting a copy of the report can contact Damian Wilson via his email, damian.wilson.pr@gmail.com.

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