TCI News
Tourism Environmental Awareness Month Commences in Turks & Caicos
#Providenciales, November 7, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Maritime, Gaming and Disaster Management commemorated the commencement of Tourism Environmental Awareness Month (T.E.A.M.) at a press conference on November 4, 2019 at the Office of the Premier in Providenciales. The Tourist Board will celebrate for the final year under the theme ‘Tourism Is Key, It Starts With Me’.
Senior officials of the Tourist Board including Chairman Adelphine Higgs-Pitter and Acting Director of Tourism Mary Lightbourne were joined by executives of the Hotel and Tourism Association to officially declare Tourism Environmental Awareness Month open.
During the press conference, the Clement Howell High School was announced as the winner of the annual Tourism Song Competition. The competition, which was issued to public and private high schools throughout the Turks & Caicos Islands, tasked students with composing an original song based on the theme ‘Tourism Is Key, It Starts With Me’.
Training Manager of the Tourist Board Ms. E. Blythe Clare used the occasion to announce the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Tourism Education for the Caribbean E-Learning Series. The E-Learning Series will be introduced to government primary schools in the Turks and Caicos Islands this year and to private primary schools in 2020. A copy of the educational software was presented to Minister of Education Hon. Karen Malcolm. The objective of the E-Learning Series is to create national awareness of the value of tourism as well as allow for the promotion and protection of the Turks and Caicos Islands and Caribbean’s identity and develop in its youth a sense of pride and confidence in projecting the unique image of the Caribbean.
Chairman of the Tourist Board Adelphine Higgs-Pitter touted the growth in visitor arrivals for the destination. She stated, “We had an overall 18% increase in visitors seeing 1.4 million arrivals in 2018 to our shores. Together with our partners and stakeholders we are committed to working to increase those numbers.”
Acting Director of Tourism Mary Lightbourne gave a brief overview of scheduled events and encouraged the public to join the Tourist Board as we journey throughout Turks and Caicos Islands spreading awareness of the importance of tourism. She assured the public that the Tourist Board team would be making an appearance on each Sister Island during the month. She further commented, “This is a period where we sensitive the population about the importance of our environment and tourism as we focus on sustainability and on our people, our product and our partnerships. It is our objective to create tourism and environmental awareness among our people that will positively improve the Turks and Caicos Islands for the pleasure and livelihoods of its citizens and the delight and comfort of our many visitors. At the same time, helping each other to understand and appreciate tourism and the impact it has on the Turks and Caicos Islands”.
The highlights of the Tourism Environmental Awareness Month calendar include:
· Tourism Fair at the Raymond Gardiner High School on November 12th from 10am to 2pm
· Tourism Fair at the Marjorie Basden High School on November 14th from 10am to 2pm
· Sustainable Tourism Symposium on November 19th (invitation only event)
· Youth Congress (Junior Minister of Tourism Competition) on November 20th at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex beginning at 10am
· Turks and Caicos Islands Community College Open House on November 22nd from 10am to 2pm
Follow the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board’s public relations unit via its Facebook page ‘Turks and Caicos Tourist Board Press’ or Instagram @tcitbpr for updates and information on all T.E.A.M. events.
Release: TCI Tourist Board
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.”
-
News4 days agoDR man rented Jet Ski nine days ago in Providenciales; where is he now?
-
Health5 days agoDengue cases rising in Region
-
Caribbean News6 days agoCARICOM, UN applauds published decree establishing Haiti’s Transitional Government
-
Caribbean News1 week agoHaiti Gang Firearms more than Police – UN says where they come from.
-
Education3 days agoCampus Brawl at Clement Howell High sends students to Hospital
-
Caribbean News3 days agoCARICOM pushes need for Reparations Tribunal at Forum in Geneva
-
Bahamas News1 week ago$36 Million Dollar Upgrade for World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas
-
Caribbean News1 week agoGuyana Wildfires