TCI News
TCI: Sandals Foundation gives IPPS a major facelift
#Providenciales, November 8, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – Sandals Foundation partnered with over 100 
elite digital influencers and celebrities recently to give the Ianthe Pratt Primary School a major facelift. The volunteers, including designer Rebecca Minkoff, stylist Alli Webb, and Emmy Award-winning journalist Sam Champion, were at Beaches Turks and Caicos Resorts for the annual ‘Social Media on the Sand’ conference. They beautified the school grounds, painted several classrooms and play areas for the pupils as part of the foundation’s continued outreach programs.
The ‘mommy bloggers,’ some accompanied by their children, painted school murals and the courtyard with positive and educational messages. The works are a continuation of ongoing post-hurricane repairs to the school which includes repairing damaged ceilings, installing missing handrails, new guttering to the school’s administration block, fixing leaks, repairing damaged walls and organizing the school’s library.
Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of Sandals Foundation noted that this latest volunteer outreach is part of the foundation’s commitment to ‘spreading the love’ with more schools across the Turks and Caicos Islands. “As you are very familiar, Sandals Foundation is really committed to education here in the Turks and Caicos and the rest of the Caribbean islands. So not only do we work on infrastructure and capacity building for teachers in our schools, but we try to get visitors, travel agents and travel partners involved in giving back in the Caribbean. This is an opportunity to do some inspiring spaces here at the school, but it’s also an opportunity for many of these people to bring attention to the great Caribbean and the world outside our hotel doors.”
Ianthe Pratt Primary School is home to over 500 students ranging from ages 4 to 12 years old. The school is one of several institutions that was adversely affected by 2017’s Hurricane Irma and Maria.
Clarke further stated; “We really want to share the love and ensure we are playing our part to help all our schools. Sandals Foundation has just recently completed $30,000 worth of work here at the school with plans to build 
upon this next year. Providing positive spaces with the right learning tools gives our children more inspiration to succeed and that is our mission.”
Neekimo King, Principal of Ianthe Pratt Primary School noted; “We’re happy that the volunteers were able to come here and put these creative things on our school compound. We’re hoping that will encourage our students to read and learn while playing.’
Media influencer Rachel Teodoro said; “I love being a part of anything that gives back. I think it’s so important to teach our families and our children and our future generation how to give back to other people and not to just focus on themselves. I think it’s such a great thing the Sandals Foundation is doing in the community they exist in.”
In May, Sandals Foundation completed extensive hurricane repairs to the Enid Capron Primary with the refurbishment of the school’s sick bay, canteen, teacher resource room and construction of a computer lab. The project which was conducted in partnership with American Friends of Jamaica and Yellow Bird Foundation also included the donation of 20 computers, furniture and literacy items for the lab.
The Sandals Foundation is fully committed to helping TCI schools recover from the recent hurricanes and looks forward to the further support of education as the foundation nears its 10th year anniversary in 2019.
Press Release: Beaches Resorts
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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