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Address to the Nation

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Providenciales, TCI, December 23, 2016  –  My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, it is a privilege and honor to have been voted into office by you, the people of this great country.   I am humbled by the outpouring of support, love and good will offered to My Government by you the people of our beautiful by nature islands.   Likewise, I am grateful to the many residents and visitors to our shores who have expressed their desire to work peacefully towards improving our country during my time in office.   I am thankful to all of you.

However, none of this would be possible without the guidance, protection, mercy and grace of Almighty God who has forever kept our people and country in his hands.   He has brought us through an election season safely with peace and order.   I thank God for his blessings on you the people of our beloved country.

The transfer of power and authority is now complete.  My party, the PDM, successfully won the General Elections by securing 10 out of 15 electoral seats on December 15th.   Although the timing of Elections interrupted the normal Christmas preparations it is my hope that today, with the little time left before Christmas Day, that all of you would accept my heartiest best and warm wishes for you in this festive season.   There is no doubt in this country that Christ is still the reason for the season.   And I join with my fellow believers and celebrating his birth.  But, just as Christmas brings renewed hope and the promise of salvation so too must a new Government offer hope for a better tomorrow for its people.

My aim this evening is to guide you through the immediate plans and decisions of My party and your Government.

  1. My Deputy Premier, Hon. Sean Astwood and other ministers including Hon. Goldray Ewing, Hon. Delroy Williams, Hon. Josephine Connolly, Hon. Edwin Astwood, and Hon. Ralph Higgs were sworn into Office on December 20th and immediately they began the work of my Government. The Change Document, an essential guide to what my Government intends to accomplish in this term of office, has been delivered to every Government PS and heads of departments.   We intend to fulfill our campaign promises to you the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
  2. Douglas Parnell will work out of my Office in Providenciales and Hon. Derek Taylor will work out of my Office in Grand Turk.   The task of delivering change for this Government is monumental, so they both will work closely with me to help bring about these changes and have been given special assignments and will report to me.
  3. Briefings were held by all Ministers on the state of Government affairs.   I will be making a more complete statement on this in the New Year.
  4. Ministers will split duties between the Nations Capital and Providenciales.
  5. I can report that some immediate financial decisions will have to be taken to avoid a crisis at the NHIB.  Our people’s health is our number one priority and we will spare nothing to ensure  they are well cared for.
  6. Swearing in of the House of Assembly will take place on December 29th at 10.00am.
  7. Thanks Giving ceremonies around the Islands will continue to take place throughout the holidays and New Year.
  8. Members of the our party should feel proud of the fact that the campaign you supported was embraced by a great majority of the people.   Equally important however, is that supporters and members of the other parties should know that now is the time for unity in our country.   The campaign is over and we must return to the awesome task of nation building.   I encourage you to join with me as we prepare ourselves to enter this New Year with a new Government.

The process of electioneering is not easy.   It is tough, believe me, I have been involved in a few.   It is tough because many old wounds get reopened and political battle lines are drawn with numerous attacks by each side to try and win the hearts and minds of you the voting public.   Those wounds need to heal now, and so we invite you, our opponents, into a period of bandaging up the proverbial battle scars so that the healing can begin.   And what better time to heal than now, when we can forget about politics and focus on the One who is Greater than all- Jesus the Christ child.

The Nation is calling us, politicians and public servants to rise above bickering and bitterness and to escape the fray and provide a path to growth and opportunity, hope and joy and success.   My party campaigned on these tenets and won the hearts and minds of the people as evidenced by the votes at the ballot box.   And so, we respectfully ask all of you to allow my Government a period to set the course and put the ship of state in the right direction.

The people felt for too long that it had lost touch with the Government and our people cried out that enough was enough and that it was time for a change.   That change is finally here.   I wish to personally extend my warmest greetings to you all for Christmas best wishes for the New Year.

 

 

#MagneticMediaNews

 

 

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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REGULATIONS INTRODUCES “RATE YOUR RIDE” SYSTEM FOR TOURISTS VISITING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March, 2024 – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Department of Tourism Regulations is proud to unveil the “Rate Your Ride” system, a new initiative designed to enhance the vacation experience for tourists exploring our picturesque islands.

The “Rate Your Ride” system empowers tourists to provide valuable feedback on the quality of transportation services they receive while visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through an easy-to-use online form, tourists can rate factors such as cleanliness, comfort, safety, and professionalism of drivers, helping us to assure the highest quality of service standards across all modes of transportation.

By participating in the “Rate Your Ride” system, tourists play a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation services in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Their feedback will enable us to identify areas for improvement and ensure that every visitor enjoys safe, comfortable, and convenient travel throughout their stay in the Turks and Caicos.

The code will also be publicly accessible through the cooperation of volunteer drivers who will make the rating code available in their vehicles. Flyers and stickers displaying the code will be distributed at hotels, resorts and airports. The mandated display of these codes is expected to align with the rollout of our tourism regulations in 2025.

For more information about the “Rate Your Ride” system and other initiatives by the Department of Tourism Regulations, please visit gov.tc/tourismregulations/or contact us via telephone at 946-4970 and email at tourismregulations@gov.tc.

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THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH SERVICES CONDEMNS RECORDING OF PERSONS WHO ARE IN CRISIS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March 2024– The Department of Behavioral Health Services is appealing to the general public to refrain from recording and circulating videos of persons who may appear to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis at some point in their life. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Persons may struggle with very common conditions such as Anxiety and Depression or be diagnosed with more serious conditions like Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings about various mental health conditions and how they may manifest. In addition, there are a number of negative perceptions and misconceptions that society exhibits towards people with mental health problems. However, just as we would show care and concern for someone diagnosed with Cancer, or any other physical illness, in the same way, we need to be as caring and helpful to persons with mental illnesses”– stated Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Alicia Malcolm.

The Department is urging the public to call the following numbers if you see someone who appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis:

338-5473/338-3616: Providenciales, North or Middle Caicos

338-3614/338-3612: Grand Turk, South Caicos, Salt Cay

338-6301: Nights and Weekends

If someone is putting themselves or someone else in immediate, serious risk of harm, call 911.

The Department of Behavioral Health services is here to help and provides the following services which are free and confidential:

Location of above services:

o             Sam Harvey Building, Down Town, Providenciales,

o             Primary Health Care Department, Cheshire Hall Medical Center, Providenciales 

o             Department of Behavioural Health, Duncombe Alley, Grand Turk

 

Let’s all do our part in creating a community where people with mental health problems feel respected, supported and cared for. 

For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/ or the Department of Behavioral Health Services Faceebook on https://www.facebook.com/TCIDBHS/.

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Breaking Ground: TCI Could Lead in Regional Communication Standards

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Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, 27th March 2024: The PR, marketing, and communications sector is poised for potential growth and could lead the Caribbean region in terms of industry standards says Damian Wilson. Wilson’s suggestion comes after the release of a new research report into the current trends and future direction of the sector as a possible emerging industry in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

Wilson is the report’s author, which conveys the findings of research which he initiated. “One of the key research results is the considerable optimism by industry practitioners and government alike, with persons seeing growth potential. I believe that we can become regional leaders in this field. I believe that one of the initiatives that could be used to do this is by establishing a ‘TCI Centre of Communications Excellence’ within the TCI Community College. Such an institute would be dedicated to communication and media innovation with a particular focus on digital communications and ICT,” says Wilson.

He further explained, “I believe that the PR, marketing, and communications sector, like much of the country, is at a crossroads and could have an even greater impact on our socio-economic fabric. Some may have concerns about our small size, but I believe this makes us far more agile than our neighbours. All in all, any potential growth must be underpinned by new investments, professional development, and a strategy to integrate the sector into the broader economy.”

Wilson also said that he sees his research as a first step in understanding our own industry sectors in the TCI and would love to see more profound research and analysis conducted. He’s hoping that the report will spark discussion along those lines. The report is entitled ‘Current Trends and Future Direction: A Preliminary Report on the PR, Marketing, and Communications Sector in the Turks & Caicos Islands’. Anyone wanting a copy of the report can contact Damian Wilson via his email, damian.wilson.pr@gmail.com.

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