TCI News
Stealth mode for Operation Guardian, TCI Governor keeping Nat’l Security secrets
#Providenciales, Wednesday, April 18, 2018 – It will remain a stealthy operation as information was impossible to press out of Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, His Excellency Dr. John Freeman.
“I am not going to discuss about what security deployments we make, in the same way I would not comment on the radar when questions were asked of me – even though many people guessed what was the situation at that stage – I was not prepared to comment on it, I do not think its appropriate to comment on it and I won’t comment therefore on where exactly RFA Mounts Bay is and what may happen about the Cayman’s helicopter etc…” 
The Governor is rightly and understandably guarding national security operations since a surge in Haitians sloops in March successfully breached TCI borders.
Still we asked him why we could not know the capability of the recently upgraded radar, why who comprised the manpower of Operation Guardian was off limits and whether the UK ship, RFA Mounts Bay was still in Turks and Caicos waters.
“I don’t want to say when exactly the boat is here or not here, clearly it is not here all of the time it has other duties that it has to do but I don’t think its conducive to the objective we all have in mind. The governor added that the objective is to deter and prevent. “But deterrence means, they must believe, those who might wish to engage in actions which are illegal that they cannot make assumptions that actually this time is a good time… so I think it is not in the interest of the objective to talk more than necessary about specifics.”
The Governor was addressing media at a press breakfast held at his office in Providenciales, where he aimed to improve dialogue between himself directly and the local press core. 
“Make no mistake, my views on illegal migration are quite clear that it is not acceptable, that it must be addressed and that no country could be indifferent to illegal migration…”
The Governor did remind of the UK financial and human resource investments in National Security; national security is the UK’s responsibility in the Turks and Caicos Islands as a UK overseas territory.
“There is and may well be further provision for lift capacity in the new budget, I don’t know if that is for the new government to decide but in terms of the UK Support, I think the important thing is they came when the surge appeared and when we asked for assistance. They will be alert to our interests. There is no magic way of dealing with this, it is a whole of Government issue.”
Operation Guardian has made well over 100 on island captures of illegal migrants, there has been no illegal Haitian sloop landing in about a month and several suspects have faced charges in court connected to harbouring and human smuggling.
Her Excellency the Governor is pleased to announce that following an expressions of interest process, and in accordance with Section 5 of the Financial Services Commission Ordinance 2007, Mr Dimaggio Rigby, Mr Geoff Scott and Mr Dennis Swann, have been appointed to serve as Commissioners on the Financial Services Commission Board of directors.
Mr Rigby brings specialist experience in cyber, media, and technology risks. He is currently employed in the City of London as a Cyber Insurance Market Consultant.
Mr Scott is a financial services professional with over 30 years’ successful track record in banking. He currently leads the Bermuda Bankers Association and was, until August 2022, the Chief Executive Officer of the Insurance Cooperation of Barbados Limited (ICBL).
Mr Swann is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers. He has expertise in Human Resources and worked for the Bank of Nova Scotia for 12 years. He has previously worked within the TCI FSC.
Commenting on the appointments, the Governor said:
“Following consultation with the Hon. Premier (in his capacity as th
e Minister of Finance) and the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, I have appointed Mr Dennis Swann, Mr Dimaggio Rigby and Mr Geoff Scott respectively, to serve as Commissioners (non-executive directors) on the Board of the Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission (FSC). I am confident that the combined experience of these three new Commissioners will help ensure the FSC delivers our vision for a technologically advanced financial services sector that is competitive and supports growth, is well regulated while agile and internationally respected.
I would like to thank Mr Keno Forbes for his previous service as a Commissioner.”
The appointments are for a three-year period, beginning in April 2024. Further details on the work of the Financial Services Commission can be found at TCIFSC.
Wednesday, April 17th 2024 – On Monday the 15th April at 11 am, the Turks and Caicos AIDS Awareness Foundation (TCAAF) unveiled their new brand to their supporters, members, the media, government departments and partnering NGO’s. The TCAAF, which is now the Turks and Caicos Health and Wellness Foundation (TCHWF) welcomed everyone to their new office which is oblique to the Edward Gartland Youth Centre, Downtown, Providenciales.
The TCHWF was founded in 2003 and is a registered non-profit organization in the TCI and a registered 501 (c) non-profit in the United States as well. TCHWF will focus on addressing broader health and social issues driven by the intersectionality of health and social factors, and disparities in services in the TCI.
At the ceremony, Dr. Dawn O’Sullivan, who provides medical care to persons living with HIV (PLHIV) through the Foundation and will continue to be the doctor on staff for TCHWF, gave the audience an insight on how the Foundation began. Dr. O’ Sullivan praised the board members, staff and volunteers for the success of the Foundation, which includes building the Edward Gartland Youth Centre. She explained that the rebranding was necessary since HIV is a chronic disease where you can take medication and live a long and healthy life, but support is needed for all persons living with chronic diseases and for the population that feels excluded or stigmatized.
TCHWF will provide holistic care to these populations. The new TCHWF office is comprised of a doctor’s office where patients can have consultations and be treated, and other comfortable spaces where persons can relax and unwind.
Nurse Nora Tyndall briefed the attendees on the services that the Foundation currently offers, such as the donation of a CD4 machine to the government so that patients can know their CD4 count before seeing the doctor. Other services being offered are free medical consultations, improved access to treatment and care, convenient access to medications, food cards, grocery distribution and the provision of formulas to infected mothers who give birth and cannot breastfeed. Nurse Tyndall highlighted that there is an increase in the number of pregnant women living with HIV in the TCI.
The new mandate of TCHWF is “Linking Lives, Transforming Communities”, the Foundation’s mission is to expand its services to connect HIV and non-HIV persons to entities and experts that can address varying needs.
The Executive Director of TCHWF, Anansa Jervis, highlighted the Foundation’s “aim to promote access to quality health services, information and education in the Turks and Caicos Islands.” Mrs. Jervis further explained that this would mean the need to “integrate HIV services and non-HIV services by increasing access to holistic and comprehensive health services needed for PLHIV and persons not living with HIV.” In this regard, the TCHWF intends to provide linkage to:
▪ The cultivation of youth empowerment and the development of life skills
▪ Health, hygiene, education and wellness strategies tailored to the needs of young women
▪ Care and support services for survivors of domestic violence
▪ Mental health, psychosocial services and recovery support services for persons with substance use disorders.
▪ Equitable access to HIV care and support services, addressing disparities.
To achieve these linkages, the Foundation has held discussions with various NGO’s and government organizations to provide the necessary services and support to persons with varying needs.
One of the Board Members of the Foundation, Giovanni Delancy, gave the closing address by expressing thanks to God, the members, staff, media and volunteers for attending the unveiling ceremony. He closed with “we will continue to bring awareness and education to those not only with HIV/AIDS but other STD’s and other diseases. Let us continue to make a difference wherever we go.”
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