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TCI NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING

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Turks and Caicos – Thursday 3rd August, 2017 – Providenciales –  His Excellency the Governor, Dr John Freeman, and the Hon. Premier, Mrs Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, co-chaired a meeting of the TCI National Security Council (NSC) on Friday, 28 July, at the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building in Providenciales.
In attendance as members of the NSC were the Hon. Deputy Premier, Mr Sean Astwood; Her Excellency the Deputy Governor, Mrs Anya Williams; the Hon. Attorney-General, Mrs Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles; and the Commissioner of Police, Mr James Smith. The Superintendent of HM Prison, Mr Steve Barrett, also attended the meeting to up-date the NSC on the situation at HM Prison.
At this meeting, the NSC:
·         Received a security up-date from the Commissioner of Police on:
–          Crime statistics for the period April-June 2017 which showed that overall crime incidents across TCI had decreased by 15% with burglaries down by 56% when compared to the same period last year. However, arrests for possession of drugs had risen significantly as had the number of robberies and incidents involving firearms;
–          Recent successes in the fight against crime including on joint operations with partners on illegal migration;
–          Challenges facing the RTCIPF, particularly the problem of controlling people entering TCI and illegal migrants in the country;
–          Recent senior appointments and promotions in the RTCIPF and on future recruitment as well as on a proposed new structure for the police force;
–          The RTCIF proposed strategic plan to address the challenges faced by the nation which focused on the four pillars of prevention, intervention, enforcement and rehabilitation. The NSC agreed to discuss the strategic plan in more detail at its next meeting on 14 August and to decide.
·         Received an up-date from the Deputy Premier on:
–          Improvements that are being made to procedures and processes to eliminate alleged corruption in the Ministry of Border Control and Employment. The Deputy Governor explained that similar processes are being implemented across TCIG.
–          Joint operations with the RTCIPF on intercepting illegal migrants which were generally working well. More staff were being recruited to the Task Force to improve TCI’s interception and enforcement capability. Technical up-grades were also being introduced to improve the capability of the radar station to detect illegal sloops;
–          Introduction of the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) which was expected to be approved at the next sitting of the House of Assembly;
–          Proposals announced in the House of Assembly for the temporary suspension of visa applications and first time work permits to enable the Ministry to clear backlogs and to assess and improve immigration control processes. It was proposed that an enforcement drive would commence from 14 August to identify and repatriate illegal migrants from TCI. The NSC highlighted the need for early engagement and consultation with all the relevant agencies and organisations who would be involved in the enforcement drive.
·         Received an up-date from the Superintendent of HM Prison on the continuing problems at the prison and measures taken to address them. At the request of the Premier, the Superintendent presented an overview of a strategic plan which he had drawn up to highlight areas of concern, associated risks and mitigations needed to address them. The NSC called for the strategic plan to be circulated to all members of the NSC for detailed discussion and assessment of the issues and mitigations at its next meeting on 14 August.
·         Received and had a preliminary discussion of the Security Needs Assessment Report for TCI sponsored by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Whilst many of the identified priorities and recommendations mirrored existing TCIG security objectives, the report would serve as a key input in the development of a TCI National Security Strategy, the development of which the NSC committed itself to;
·         Received an update from the Attorney General on the completion of the anti-money laundering and prevention of terrorism financing National Risk Assessment which would be presented to the Cabinet for final approval at its next meeting.
 
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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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