TCI News
Turks and Caicos signs Safe School Declaration with UNICEF
#Providenciales, June 26, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The Turks and Caicos Islands on June 13, 2019 joined many countries around the world that have signed the Safe Schools Declaration, signaling their commitment to protect students, teachers, and schools from the worst effects of disaster.
Dr. Aloys Kamuragiye, our country Representative of the UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area was present in the Turks and Caicos Islands for this grand occasion and spoke at the event. The UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area is responsible for Programmes of Cooperation with the Governments of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Virgin Islands (UK), Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Minister of Education, Youth, Culture, Social and Library Services, Honourable Karen Malcolm, stated in her address during the ceremony, “The recurrent natural disasters such as, hurricanes, flood, fire accidents, tsunamis, earthquakes, etc. on the education sector is posing wider social challenges.
Worldwide, schools, universities, and other academic institutions have been affected by disasters increasing the vulnerabilities of children, students, teachers and academics to a large extent. Educational facilities have been used as shelters for accommodating the affected and displaced for several months after an event. This affects our children’s education and expose students and education personnel to harm, deny large numbers of children and students their right to education and so deprive communities of the foundation on which to build their future. In many countries, the adverse impacts of recurrent flood, hurricanes, earthquake, conflicts etc. destroy not just school infrastructure, but the hopes and ambitions of a whole generation of children.” Honourable Malcolm indicated that she is committed to ensure that School Safety in the Turks and Caicos Islands is and remains a priority nationally, regionally and internationally. “The Safe School Declaration is a step forward in realizing our mission of having a nation empowered by a dynamic system of care, education and training.”
The Safe School Declaration was signed in the evening of a two-day workshop under the theme “Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaption into Education Sector Policies and Practices”. This workshop was sponsored and facilitated by UNICEF. The Safe School Declaration was signed by the Premier (Honourable Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson), the Minister of Education (Honourable Karen Malcolm), the country Representative from UNICEF (Dr. Aloys Kamuragiye), Education Manager UNICEF (Mr. Unai Sacona) and the Permanent Secretary of Education (Mr. Wesley Clerveaux). Present at the signing of the Safe School Declaration were the Acting Governor, HE Anya Williams, the Deputy Attorney General, participants of the workshop and other invited guests.
The Safe Schools Declaration outlines a number of commitments by the TCI Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture, Social and Library Services to be achieved by 2020.
Release: TCIG
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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