Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – The long-awaited Turks and Caicos School Sports (TCISS) season kicked off on Saturday, September 28th, with the expectation of an electrifying resurgence of school spirit.

The first school sport on schedule is the Inter-High School Football season for Boys and Girls. Last year’s Boys’ champions were the A. Louise Garland Thomas High School and the Marjorie Basden High School were back-to-back champions for the Girls.

The opening weekend will take place at the TCIFA stadium on Venetian Road starting at 10:00 am but all following games in the season will take place at the National Stadium.

 Chosen by the coaches in a lottery draw, here are the groups each team will be playing in:

Boys Group A

British West Indies Collegiate – BWIC

Wesley Methodist High School – WMHS Maranatha Academy – MA

Clement Howell High School – CHHS

TCIPS Comprehensive High – TCIPS

Boys Group B

Raymond Gardiner High School – RGHS

HJ Robinson High School – HJRHS

1. Louise Garland Thomas High School – ALGTHS Marjorie Basden High School – MBHS

Elite High School – EHS

Girls Group A

Clement Howell High School – CHHS

Wesley Methodist High School – WMHS

Raymond Gardiner High School – RGHS

1. Louise Garland Thomas High School – ALGTHS

Girls Group B

British West Indies Collegiate – BWIC

Clement Howell High School – CHHS

HJ Robinson High School – HJRHS

Marjorie Basden High School – MBHS

On the launch of TCISS 2024-25, Hon. Rachel Taylor shares, “As Minister with responsibilities for Sports, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate all schools for making the assertive effort to ensure that their students are actively engaged in sporting initiatives in partnership with the Sports Commission. Such partnerships aid in the effective delivery of the Physical Education Curriculum.  The various sporting disciplines provide an opportunity to develop the soft skills of our students in areas such as leadership, team building, and resilience, and promote physical fitness. We wish our schools all the best as we launch our school sports season.”.

How to Watch Games:

For this year’s game schedules visit the TCISS page: https://www.gov.tc/sports/our-events/tci-school-sports. Tickets will be sold at the stadium booth: Adults $5, and Children $3.

Visit this link to review last year’s season’s fixtures and standings: https://www.schoolssports.com/CompetitionMicrosite/Competitionintro.asp?TID=TCISS-Football&S=20232024.

Turks and Caicos Islands School Sports 2024-25 Schedule

• TCISS Inter-High School Football Boys, TCISS Inter-High School Football Girls – September 28, 2024 – October 26, 2024 (Providenciales)
• TCISS Inter-High School Basketball – November 2024 – February 2025 (All-Island)
• TCISS Inter-High School Softball – November 2024 – February 2025
• Track and Field Development Meets – February & March 2025
• TCISS Inter-High School Track and Field – March 2025 (Providenciales)
• TCISS Inter-Primary School Track and Field – April 2025 (Providenciales)

KINGSTON, Jamaica, October 6, 2024 – A mural symbolising the theme ‘Tourism and Peace: Out of Many, One Love’ was unveiled by the Ministry of Tourism on Peters Lane in downtown Kingston on Friday (September 27).

The mural was created by lead artist, Sheldon Blake, and assistant artist, Rohan Cargill, for Tourism Awareness Week 2024.

It depicts various Jamaican music genres and fruits, highlights craft vendors and popular tourist spots, including Devon House and Rio Grande rafting.

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, in a message read by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Jennifer Griffith, said the mural will be a visual representation of how tourism brings people together – breaking down barriers, healing divides and celebrating the beauty of diversity.

“It speaks to the enduring strength of Jamaica’s tourism product and our role in promoting peace, both locally and globally. Sheldon’s work reminds us that our history, culture and people are the foundation upon which our thriving tourism industry is built,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Griffith said preliminary figures show that since the start of the year, Jamaica has welcomed some three million stopover and cruise visitors to the island, earning approximately US$3 billion.

“So despite various challenges relating to travel advisories, Hurricane Beryl and tightness in relation to airlift, we are marginally ahead of last year’s performance and remain on track to achieve our target of securing five million visitors and US$5 billion in earnings by 2025,” she shared.

Ms. Griffiths underscored that these remarkable achievements highlight the strength and sustained recovery of the tourism sector, demonstrating once again that Jamaica remains a premier global destination.

“Tourism is not just an economic driver; it is a bridge to peace, understanding and collaboration. Jamaica’s tourism agenda remains steadfast in ensuring that our industry grows, while protecting the natural and cultural treasures that make us truly unique,” Ms. Griffith said.

For her part, Deputy Director of Kingston Creative, Janet Crick, said the mural is a beautiful addition to the more than 100 in the downtown district.

“These streets have now become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Spaces which persons once shied away from have now become a viable attraction and a veritable outdoor gathering, offering beautiful and vibrant depictions of our rich Jamaican history, heritage and culture. It is, therefore, most fitting that tourism, one of the country’s largest income earners, should have a mural in this space – paying tribute to the industry and to its importance to our island,” she said.

CONTACT: JUDANA MURPHY

Release: JIS

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands,  – The Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC) announces the official opening of its brand-new Student Lounge at the Grand Turk Campus. The event took place on Wednesday, September 26, on the campus grounds and was attended by distinguished guests, staff, students, and community members.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was graced by the Honourable Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, who, in her remarks, applauded the leadership and vision that have been steering the College toward transformative changes. “Leadership makes a difference in any institution,” she stated, alluding to the positive strides TCICC is making toward creating a more engaging and enriching environment for its students.

Other notable attendees included Dr. Barbara Ambrister, Chair of the TCICC’s Board of Governors; Dr. Candice Williams, President of TCICC; Dr. Hubert Fulford, Former President of TCICC; Reverend Frednor Toussaint, who dedicated the building; as well as Heath and Tamika Francis, the talented designers of the new lounge. The presence of past and present Guild Presidents, the Guild Vice President, staff, and students further highlighted the significance of this breakthrough in the College’s journey toward enhancing the student experience.

In her inspiring address, Dr. Williams expressed her immense pride in the launch of the Student Lounge, emphasizing its role as a critical element in fostering an inclusive and vibrant student community. “Today marks yet another milestone in our journey toward fulfilling the College’s vision of becoming the first choice for education and training in the Turks and Caicos Islands and beyond,” she remarked. “This lounge is a testament to our commitment to creating an environment where students can not only learn but thrive.”

The new Student Lounge is designed to be more than just a relaxation space; it embodies TCICC’s core values of excellence, inclusion, and collaboration. The facility features a study room, office space for the Student Guild President, a gaming area equipped for dart and pool enthusiasts, a cozy couch area, televisions, a reading nook, collaborative spaces for group work and a kitchenette. The lounge offers students an ideal environment to connect, collaborate, and unwind in between classes.

Ms. Saphina Blaise, Former President of the Guild, shared her heartfelt sentiments about this achievement: “To stand here today and witness that our voices did not fall on deaf ears fills me with gratitude.” Her words captured the spirit of the event, which was a celebration not just of a physical space but of the unity and collaboration that it represents.

As a key highlight of the College’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the student experience, the Student Lounge stands as a symbol of TCICC’s dedication to supporting its students’ academic and personal growth. “The student experience is at the heart of what makes a college valuable,” said Dr. Williams. “We believe that spaces like this lounge are key to creating enriching, empowering, and memorable experiences.”

As the students begin to enjoy their new space, Dr. Williams urged them to take pride in and ownership of the lounge. “May this lounge be a source of inspiration, relaxation, and pride. Enjoy it, cherish it, and let it remind you that TCICC is committed to supporting you in every way as you reach for your dreams.”