#GrandTurk, Turks and Caicos Islands — Thursday, 20th February 2020 Ensuring there is a vibrant Judiciary that not only dispenses justice, but provides balance to the Executive, is an essential element of democratic law-abiding society.
I’m announcing today
three new judicial appointments: the next Chief Justice, a second Judge and the
appointment of a new Chief Magistrate for the Turks and Caicos Islands. Over the next month or so I’ll be announcing
further judicial appointments linked to the Appeal Court.
In keeping the public
informed, let me start by saying something about the process as well as the
result.
In making judicial
decisions the Governor is not alone. He has outstanding counsel. He makes his
decision based on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; a group of three
very senior and experienced Judges.
The Commission who
advise the Governor are: Justice Sir Michael Barnett, a former Chief Justice of
the Bahamas and now a Judge on the Appeal Court of the Bahamas. Justice Hilary
Philips, President of the Court of Appeal of Jamaica and Justice Zaila McCalla
a former Chief Justice of Jamaica.
It is the JSC who
sift the applicants and then choose which applicants they will interview. It is
the JSC, and not the Governor, who conducts the interviews. Using the role of
Chief Justice as an example the role was advertised internationally, not just
regionally, and the JSC received a very strong field of applications.
From this field the
JSC chose to interview seven candidates. They don’t ask the Governor’s views on
individual candidates either before the sift or before the interview. They did
consult with the President of the local Bar and they did canvass individuals to
see if there was interest from members of the senior Bar in TCI; no local
candidates chose to put themselves forward this time for the role of Chief
Justice.
The JSC also
canvassed the Governor’s view, not in terms of named candidates but any special
requirements the Governor might identify.
I said that beyond being an excellent Jurist, and having an independent
spirit, TCI needed a Chief Justice with the energy and experience of taking
through change in the Justice Sector.
The blue print for
that change has been crafted by our outgoing Chief Justice with significant
support from those in the wider criminal justice stakeholder group. As a result, all those interviewed were
provided with a copy of the Strategy and interviews included questions about
approach and implementation.
With regard to the appointments I am now announcing, I have acted on the advice of the JSC, not only in terms of the appointment of a successful named individual, but also in terms of the type of contract that underpins the appointment.
The Islands new Chief Justice will be Mrs Justice Mabel Agyemang.
Justice
Agyemang has worked as a Superior Court Judge in three Commonwealth
Jurisdictions. At present she is a Justice of the Court of Appeal in Ghana.
She is a product of the University of Ghana and the Ghana School of Law, she was in private legal practice from 1987 to 1991 when she joined the Judiciary of Ghana. In 2002, she was appointed a High Court Judge.
From
2004 to 2014 she was seconded to the Commonwealth Secretariat as an expert to
the Judiciaries of The Gambia and Swaziland where she worked as a High Court
Judge. She was then appointed an expert Judge of The Gambia Court of Appeal.
From 2013 to 2014 she was the Chief Justice of The Gambia. She took up her present role in 2015.
It is worth saying
something about her departure from her role in the Gambia. This is a badge of
significant honour. She stood up to an autocrat – one of Africa’s most
notorious strongmen – Yahya Jammeh – whose 22-year rule only ended in
2017. Through integrity and courage, she
attempted to protect the Judiciary from an overarching executive.
It’s probably best I
give, as but one example, evidence provided by the Bar Council in the
Gambia.
Justice Agyemang was
elevated to the position of Chief Justice, a very difficult position to hold in
an autocratic regime. The Bar welcomed her appointment as we strongly believed
in her independence and capacity to steer the justice system. During her tenure
as Chief Justice,
she had firm control of the judiciary, as well as the support of the judges,
the Bar Association and the judicial staff. She instilled a culture of
discipline and professionalism in the Judiciary. The attitude to work by
judicial officers dramatically changed, and they became more professional and
effective. Punctuality was expected of everyone and she led by example. She
introduced reforms to ensure access to justice to litigants and to minimize the
unnecessary delays in the dispensation of justice. She initiated the amendment
of the Rules of Court to ensure expeditious determination of cases. She was a
driver of innovation and reform, introducing ICT solutions to Judges for case
law research amongst other things.
It was
regrettable that despite her excellent and successful tenure, the President at
the time unlawfully terminated her services to the dismay and disappointment of
the entire legal fraternity. At that period of the time, the then autocratic
President was doing everything possible to control the Judiciary. Indeed, the
departure of Justice Mabel Agyemang was sorely felt, as she left an
indelible mark in our judicial sector.
The
new Chief Justice herself asked the JSC that she be employed on a three-year
contract and that was the JSC’s recommendation to me, which I have accepted.
The Islands new Puisne Judge will be Ms Tanya
Lobban-Jackson.
Ms
Tanya Lobban-Jackson has been the extremely effective Chief Magistrate of the
Turks and Caicos Islands. The Magistrates Courts, where the vast majority of
cases are heard have had conviction rates of 80% that mirror the UK’s and they
have a reputation for efficiency.
Ms
Lobban-Jackson was appointed to the post of Chief Magistrate of the Turks and
Caicos Islands in August of 2016. In that post she was ex officio Coroner and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty Authority.
Prior
to being appointed to the Magistracy, Ms. Lobban-Jackson was a Senior
Prosecutor in Jamaica and Senior Crown Counsel in the Cayman Islands gaining
eighteen years’ experience in advocacy in the Magistrate’s Court, Supreme Court
and Court of Appeal.
Trained
in the areas of Child Safeguarding, Human Trafficking, Money Laundering, and
Case Management; she was first appointed to act as Puisne Judge of the Supreme
Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands in December of 2018 and has done so
periodically since then.
Ms Lobban-Jackson as
Chief Magistrate alongside her now colleague Mr Justice Aziz, who remains with
us in TCI, have both been instrumental in building a consensus in the TCI
Judiciary that has resulted in the strategy that the new Chief Justice will
drive forward.
The
JSC’s recommendation was that Ms Lobban-Jackson should be appointed with tenure
until she reach’s the age of constitutional retirement. A recommendation that I have
accepted.
Mr Jolyon Hatmin will be the next Chief Magistrate of TCI.
Mr Hatmin was
appointed Resident Magistrate in the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2012. Prior to this he was the Managing Attorney of
the Legal Aid Authority in his native Guyana, representing clients at the civil
and criminal bar. He also worked as a Legal Advisor to the Guyana Sugar
Corporation and was a public prosecutor for several years. He was first
admitted to the Bar in 2000.
Mr Hatmin has built a
reputation for sound judgements in his role as a Magistrate and his promotion
will also allow him a seat at the senior stake-holders group that will take
forward reform of the Justice sector and is to be welcomed.
In Summary: We
will have in TCI a reforming Chief Justice, a Chief Justice who has won the
respect of the Bar and Bench in multiple Commonwealth jurisdictions, a Chief
Justice highly regarded by the Commonwealth Secretariat, and a Chief Justice
who stood up for the Judiciary against an extremely powerful autocratic
Executive.
Working with
her we will have two excellent Judges, Justice Aziz and Justice Lobban-Jackson
who have been instrumental in building the strategy that our new Chief Justice
will take forward. The appointment of Mr. Hatmin as Chief Magistrate – and the
elevation of Justice Lobban-Jackson -should reassure TCI that a drive for
improvement, through change, will not be at the expense of continuity.
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The Ministry of Health and Human Services proudly announces the successful launch of the Electronic Patient Care Report (ePCR), marking a historic milestone in emergency healthcare services. The official unveiling ceremony took place on March 12, 2024 at the Atrium conference room.
In attendance were distinguished dignitaries, including Deputy Premier and Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Honourable Jamell Robinson; Minister of Health and Human Services, Honourable Shaun D. Malcolm; Minister of Tourism, Environment, Maritime, Culture, Heritage and Religious Affairs, Honourable Josephine Connolly; Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services, Honourable Rachel Taylor; the Minister of Immigration and Border Services, Honourable Arlington Musgrove; and the Permanent Secretary of Health, Mrs Desiree Lewis, who recognized the significance of the ePCR system in promoting public health and safety. Their presence underscored the government’s unwavering commitment to investing in healthcare infrastructure and technological advancements to better serve the needs of the population. Thus reaffirming their support for initiatives aimed at improving emergency healthcare services and strengthening the National Emergency Medical Service’s capabilities.
During the launch event, the Minister of Health and Human Services highlighted the transformative impact of the ePCR system on patient care and emergency response efforts. Emphasizing the importance of innovation in healthcare, the Minister expressed gratitude to the dedicated team of professionals who contributed to the development and implementation of the ground breaking technology. The Deputy Premier praised the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the ePCR system, affirming its potential to revolutionize emergency medical services especially the pre-hospital management of citizens and visitors across the country.
The Director of Emergency Medical Services, Mr. Andy Brijmohansingh, spoke passionately about the importance of embracing technology to advance patient care. “The introduction of the Electronic Patient Care Report marks a new chapter in our commitment to providing high-quality emergency medical services,” said Mr Brijmohansingh. “This innovative system empowers our teams with the tools they need to deliver swift and effective care, while ensuring that patient information is accurately captured and securely shared.”
The Electronic Patient Care Report (ePCR) represents a significant advancement in the National Ambulance Service’s mission to deliver efficient and high-quality emergency medical care to citizens across the nation. Developed with cutting-edge technology and meticulous attention to detail, the ePCR system streamlines the documentation process, enhances communication, and ensures the seamless transfer of patient information between emergency responders and healthcare facilities.
The launch of the Electronic Patient Care Report marks a new chapter in the evolution of emergency medical services, promising enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and patient outcomes. With its implementation, the National Emergency Medical Services reaffirms its dedication to providing timely and effective care to individuals in their time of need.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 6th March, 2024– The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Social Services would like to announce the launch of the 2024 scholarship application season which opens on March 11th 2024. This initiative offers invaluable opportunities for Turks and Caicos Islanders to apply for scholarship opportunities within the Ministry’s priority areas. For more information on our priority areas please visit our website at https://gov.tc/scholarshipsecretariat
Estimated awards within each award category as follows: –
Standard Financial Assistance ………………………………………………….(55) including:
Explanatory notes in the link provided above outlines the criteria for each award category.
Our new application method
Our new application method for financial assistance marks a departure from traditional email or paper submissions; all applications must now be submitted exclusively through tcig-nefa.grantplatform.com/. Utilizing the Good Grants platform, an internationalized grant-making platform, applicants can easily apply online by clicking the provided link.
Dates
Application deadline: 30th May, 2024 at [11:59 pm] [EST]
Please note the application deadline, this date is final and there will be no extensions provided for the initial submission. The system will automatically prevent application submission after the deadline.
There is an extension date for the below documents IF NECESSARY up to June 30th.
Acceptance Letter
Transcript
Successful applicants will be notified in early August 2024.
Support
If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Scholarship Secretariat Unit by email to [scholarshipsecretariat@tciedu.tc]. DO NOT SEND APPLICATION SUBMISSION TO THIS ADDRESS.
You may edit your application after submitting, up until the deadline date.
Please make sure all your personal details are entered accurately, including contact details, so that we may contact you if your application is successful.
You are allowed to submit to more than one category, as long as the work submitted meets the criteria. However you can only be awarded 1 award.
You can use the ‘copy’ feature to create a copy of your application and change the category as required.
The Department of Special Education Needs Services (SENS) has marked a significant milestone in its journey towards enhancing services for exceptional learners through its participation in the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) 2024 Convention and Expo, held in San Antonio, Texas March 12th to 16th 2024. This event, renowned for its dedication to advancing the field of special education, provided a platform for our team to immerse themselves in a wealth of knowledge and resources.
The convention, with a rich history of fostering collaboration and innovation, focused on sensitizing attendees to global initiatives in special education. Our team, consisting of four professionals from the Department of Special Education Needs Services; Mrs. Paulette Simmons – Special Education Teacher at SNAP Center, Jamiliyah Jordan – Speech and Language Pathologist, Christina Joseph – Behavioural Analyst, Lashaunda Skippings – Coordinator of Assessments and one representative from the Department of Education, Mrs. Faaida James – Special Education Officer benefited immensely from four days of information-packed workshops, networking opportunities, and exposure to cutting-edge assistive technologies and programs.
CEC 2024 Convention and Expo has been a driving force in shaping the landscape of special education. Each year, it gathers professionals, researchers, and advocates to exchange ideas, share best practices, and explore innovative solutions to support individuals with exceptional needs.
Lashaunda Skippings, Coordinator of Assessments, and a part of the team, shared her thoughts on the convention, stating, “ The CEC 2024 Convention exceeded my anticipations. It was incredibly enlightening and stimulated thoughtful reflection. I am grateful for the openness of presenters who shared their exemplary practices in Special Education, that address the needs of students with disabilities globally.”
Dr. Anya Malcolm, Director of Special Education Needs Services, expressed her excitement about the department’s progress, stating, “The thrill that fills the department and the parents as initiatives in Special Education Needs falls into place remarkably is tangible. We are dedicated to utilizing the knowledge and experiences gained from events like CEC 2024 to further enhance our services and support for exceptional learners.”
Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, expressed her commendation for the Department of Special Education Needs Services, stating, “I commend the Department of Special Education Needs Services for their unwavering dedication and proactive stance in participating in the CEC 2024 Convention and Expo. The Ministry acknowledges the pivotal role of such initiatives in elevating the standards of special education services and fostering the comprehensive development of exceptional learners nationwide.”
The Department of Special Education Needs Services remains committed to its mission of providing comprehensive and inclusive support to individuals with special needs. Through continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation, we strive to create a nurturing environment where every exceptional learner can thrive.
For more information about the Department of Special Education Needs Services and its initiatives, please contact sens@gov.tc.