TCI News
TCI: Child Abuse Prevention Month – April 2018
#TurksandCaicos, April 12, 2018 – Providenciales – The Department of Social Development within the Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communication observes Child Abuse Prevention month in April. This year’s theme is “Hear the Children’s Cry.” Child abuse can affect children of all ages, race, ethnicity and religion. No child or young person is immune to it.
The Department of Social Development is the lead agency responsible for Child safeguarding/ protection and has zero tolerance to all forms of child abuse. In order to prevent Child Abuse, we must first know what it is.
Child Abuse is any act or series of actions, or failure to act by a parent or caregiver which results in any form of harm, potential for harm or threat of harm to a minor child. These acts of commission and omission may result in physical injury, neglect, emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation. Behaviors/ actions and Indicators exhibited may co-exist.
Types of Child Abuse:
Neglect
Physical abuse
Abandonment
Sexual abuse
Emotional/Psychological abuse
A Child is defined as a person under the age of 18 years old, according to the Convention on the Rights of a Child, which TCI is signatory.
Who abuses children: Children are primarily abused by familiar persons not strangers. People who they know and trust.
There are many reasons and factors where children and adults do report child abuse:
CHILD VIEWS ADULT VIEWS
Fear of removal and separation from families Fear of community backlash
Lives being threatened Belief the child will get over it
Shame, guilt, embarrassment Fear of negative consequences
People gossip too much and they wouldn’t want
anyone to know about it
It is important for everyone to report child abuse because:
- You are the voice of the child
- Stop the cycle of abuse
- Prevention is better
Mandatory Reporting
Professional bodies such as teachers, operators and employees of day care centres, health care professionals, social workers, have the legal responsibility to report all forms of child abuse including the clergy. The Children Care and Protection Ordinance 2015 stipulates the timing in which reporting should be…” without delay” (section 14. 1)
Methods of reporting
- Contact the police who will contact the Director of Social Development
- Anonymously
- Email: reportabusetci@gov.tc
The TCI government approved the National Child Safeguarding Protocols – Working Together in the TCI in Cabinet and an official signing of the document by all stakeholders took place on the November 16, 2017. This was a major accomplishment for the TCI in safeguarding our children and coming in line with our UK OT counterparts. The main stakeholders were:
- Education
- Police
- Health
- Legal Department – AG Chambers/ DPP
- Social Development
How you can help?
- Everyone has a role to play in combating child abuse in the TCI.
- If you see something, say something
- Do not hide incidences of child abuse – always operate in the best interest of the child
- Educate others about the signs and indicators of child abuse and what can be done to prevent it
Tips on managing CA
- Reach out to a parent who seems overwhelmed
- Set a positive example. Never use violence or put downs
- Treat all children and parents with respect.
- Be there for children. Listen and empathize
- Always stop to cool down before disciplining a child
Dos and Don’ts if a child discloses abuse
Dos
Reassure the child that you have listened to what he/she said
Ensure you have made notes using the child’s exact words (date, time, place, people present)
Ensure the report is made by contacting lead agency in child protection – Social Development and or the police
Don’ts
Do not contact the alleged or suspected perpetrator
Do not attempt to investigate the allegations yourself
Do not interrupt, ask leading questions or make the child repeat the account, if a child tells you that he or another child is being abused.
Commenting on Child Abuse Month, the Director of Social Development, Mrs. Tiffany Thomas-Browne noted; “Our children and young people are our most precious gems and TCIG is committed to preventing, reporting and managing all forms of child abuse throughout the country. The TCI National Child Safeguarding Protocol-Working Together in the TCI gives us leverage on the methods and approaches that must be taken in respect to a report of child abuse/neglect. It speaks to the various roles of stakeholders and more importantly, minimizing the impact of abuse on the child as well as having the child’s best interest as our priority. You are urged to do your part as a citizen to protect our children and ensure that they grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care. Break the Silence – End Child Abuse/Neglect.”
The following activities have been planned for the rest of the month in observance of Child Abuse Month.
Activities in observance of CAP month
- Rap sessions with young people around the theme
- Focus groups with children and young people
- Child Safeguarding workshops for parents, teachers & Religious leaders
- Community Outreach (distribution of brochures and pamphlets)
- Jingle creation by students
- Presentations to schools
- Ecumenical church service on Provo
Release: TCIG
Almost two million visitors recorded in 2025
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – The Turks and Caicos Islands saw an increase in stayover arrivals in December, seven percent higher than the corresponding period in 2024.
Preliminary data suggests that stay over arrivals by air for the month of December was 66,427 in comparison to 62,610 in December 2024.
From January to December 2025, preliminary visitor arrival numbers totalled 640,754; on par with the number recorded for the same period of 2024.
Stay Over Arrivals YTD December 2024/2025
The first quarter of the calendar year attracted the largest number of arrivals with visitor arrivals three percent higher than the first quarter of 2024. Reduced airlift from the United Kingdom and the United States, most notably the Virgin Atlantic and JetBlue services, was however felt from the second quarter (April to June). As a result, visitor arrivals dropped three percent in the second quarter.
By the third quarter of this year (July to September), geopolitical and economic conditions in the key source markets, namely the United States, led to further contraction of arrivals. In the last quarter of 2025, arrivals were impacted in October due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa but additional airlift from the USA and Canada resulted in an increase in arrivals in November and December.
Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant of Experience Turks and Caicos, said December’s increase in stayover arrivals is an encouraging indicator of the sustained interest in the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier destination.
“While we note and continue to monitor geopolitical shifts that affect us, Experience Turks and Caicos is focused on increasing marketing initiatives in our primary source markets. We have spent the last two years investing in groundwork such as crucial travel advisor training to assist them in selling the destination more effectively. In the next fiscal, we will be building on those initiatives with co-op activities with partners as well as out of home advertising to increase visitation to our destination,” he said.
In Cruise, the preliminary count of passenger arrivals for the month of December 2025 was 129,346, a 22 percent increase over last December. This growth follows the berthing of 11 additional ships in Grand Turk this month.
From January to December, the cruise sector continued to outperform the same period last year, as the 1.3 million total cruise passengers recorded, marks a five percent Year-on-Year increase. 
The cruise sector experienced significant growth in the first quarter of 2025, with passenger arrivals surpassing last quarter by 53 percent. In the second and third quarter however, several cruise lines adjusted their itineraries as vessels were pulled from the fleet or from the Caribbean region, which resulted in fewer passengers.
Arrivals dropped seven percent and 10 percent in the second and third quarters, respectively. Double digit growth was recorded in the last two months of Quarter 4. This growth however, was not sufficient to outweigh the drop in arrivals experienced in October, following the cancellation of cruise calls due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Despite the late-quarter rebound, arrivals for the final quarter of 2025 closed six percent below the same period in 2024.
News
The Department of Trade, Industry & Fair Competition to Host Export Readiness Workshop Under the theme “Empowering TCI Businesses for Local Growth and Global Markets.”
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 11 February 2026: The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU) coordinated a multi-agency enforcement operation on Thursday, 29 January 2026, led by the Planning Department, with support from the Crown Land
Unit, the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, and security provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. The operation, carried out at three different locations in Providenciales, formed part of ongoing government efforts to address unauthorised development and illegal occupation of land in accordance with governing legislation.
The operation commenced in Blue Hills, where five Section 58 Enforcement Notices were issued on unauthorised structures identified on Block and Parcel 60502/48.
Enforcement activity then moved to a second location off the Leeward Highway near Caicos Lodge, where six Section 58 Enforcement Notices were issued on additional unauthorised structures on Block and Parcel 60802/66.
The final phase of the operation took place in The Bight, where three unauthorised structures were removed, with all debris cleared from the site in keeping with established safety and environmental protocols.
The Informal Settlements Unit remains committed to working alongside its partner agencies to support lawful development, protect public and private land, and ensure that planning regulations are enforced in a coordinated and transparent manner across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Similar joint operations will continue as part of the Government’s wider strategy to address unauthorised development and informal settlement activity.
