TCI News
TCI: Human Trafficking – The Misery Involved
#TurksandCaicos, April 17, 2018 – Providenciales – The Commission, with increasing global awareness has expressed concern over the potential of trafficking of persons and especially for the trafficking of women from the Dominican Republic and most recently Venezuela. Women are routinely provided with visas or work permits and are being brought into the country the disguise of legitimate working opportunities such as bar maids, nannies, waitresses, and dancers only to find themselves, unwillingly in most cases, plying sexual favours, engaging in prostitution or being victims of other forms of forced labour.
It is an established fast that human traffickers prey on people who are poor, isolated and weak. Issues such as disempowerment, social exclusion and economic vulnerability are the result of policies and practices that marginalize entire groups of people and make them particularly vulnerable to being trafficked. Natural disasters, conflict and political turmoil weaken already tenuous social protection measures. Individuals are vulnerable to being trafficked not only because of conditions in their countries but also by the allure of opportunity, the relentless demand for inexpensive goods and services and the expectation of reliable income drive people into potentially dangerous situations where they are at risk of being exploited.
The annual trafficking report by the US State Department remarked that the “Turks and Caicos Islands are a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour. According to local experts, the large population of migrants from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica are vulnerable to sex trafficking and forced labour, with stateless children and adolescents especially at risk.” In an effort to combat trafficking the Turks and Caicos Islands Government has pushed the Trafficking in Persons Prevention Bill through the House of Assembly, the ordinance acquired assent on the 30th of January 2016 and came into force on the 12th of February 2016. This ordinance provides for sentences of up to 10 years for individuals involved in the traffic of persons and can act as a significant disincentive to those who are involved in this abhorrent trade.
Sex Trafficking
When women and girl children are coerced, forced, or deceived into prostitution, that person is considered a victim of trafficking. All persons involved in recruitment, transporting, harbouring, receiving or obtaining for that purpose are committing a crime under the Trafficking in Persons Prevention Ordinance 2016. Sexual trafficking can also occur with debt bondage as women and girls are forced into prostitution to pay of an illegal debt incurred through their transportation from one country to another. Upon to the host country they are told that this debt must be paid before they are freed and in most cases their identity documents are held by the traffickers.
Sexual trafficking is more than a crime or migration issue, it is a fundamental human rights issue, and, in many respects, it is a manifestation of persistent gender inequality and a symptom of the subordinate status of women globally. Around the world most trafficked people are women and children, data provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime suggested that globally 70% of trafficked people were female (49% women and 21% girls). Surprisingly the same report identified that many of the traffickers were themselves women and that in some parts of the world women trafficking women was held to be the norm.
Trafficking has a harrowing effect on the mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of the women and girls ensnared in its web. Beyond the physical abuse, trafficked women suffer extreme emotional stress, including shame, grief, fear, distrust and suicidal thoughts. Victims often experience post-traumatic stress disorder, and with that, acute anxiety, depression and insomnia. Many victims turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain.
Sex trafficking also promotes societal breakdown by removing women and girls from their families and communities. Trafficking fuels organized crime groups that usually participate in many other illegal activities, including drug and weapons trafficking and money laundering. It negatively impacts local and national labour markets, due to the loss of human resources and burdens public health systems. It erodes government authority, encourages widespread corruption, and threatens the security of vulnerable populations.
Victims of trafficking for forced labour lose their freedom, becoming modern-day slaves. They usually experience permanent physical and psychological harm, isolation from families and communities, reduced opportunities for personal development, and restricted movement. Victims are often wary of law enforcement and psychologically dependent on their traffickers. Child victims are denied educational access, which reinforces the cycle of poverty and illiteracy.
Human trafficking is modern day slavery and it is alive and well in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Recently a multi-agency task force has conducted raids across Providenciales and the allegations of many women who have been kept isolated and sexually exploited throughout the island have been rescued. It is to be hoped that the authorities, Police and Immigration, will be carrying out intensive investigations into those responsible for these alleged offences
and that they will eventually be brought to justice.
Everyone has the potential to identify a trafficked person. While victims may sometimes be kept behind locked doors in homes or brothels, they are often hidden right in front of us at, for example, construction sites, restaurants, elder care centres, nail salons, agricultural fields, and hotels. Traffickers’ use of coercion – such as threats of deportation and harm to the victim or their family members – is so powerful that even if you reach out to victims, they may be too fearful to accept your help. Knowing indicators of human trafficking will help you act on your gut feeling that something is wrong and report it to the RTCIPF Sexual Offences Unit or the Offices of the Human Rights Commission.
Human Trafficking Indicators
While not an exhaustive list, these are some key red flags that could alert you to a potential trafficking situation that should be reported:
It is the responsibility of every one of us to assist the authorities in stamping out this sinister crime.
Release: Human Rights Commission
By Magnetic Media Newsroom
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — The Turks and Caicos Islands Government says the breakdown of its relationship
with InterHealth Canada presents an opportunity to reshape healthcare delivery, with plans to expand local medical services, strengthen primary care and reduce dependence on overseas treatment.
During a national briefing following InterHealth Canada’s notice terminating its hospital contract, Premier Charles Washington Misick acknowledged publicly for the first time that Government and InterHealth had been negotiating an exit from the arrangement for more than a year after what he described as an “irretrievably broken down” relationship.
Despite the contractual dispute, Misick and Health Minister Kyle Knowles stressed that healthcare services will continue uninterrupted during the transition.
“Allow us to do our job,” Knowles appealed, assuring residents that Government is actively managing the transition and safeguarding patient care.
The Premier outlined what amounts to a broader healthcare transformation built around four connected levels of care: strengthened community-based primary healthcare; expanded polyclinic services; enhanced hospital-based secondary care with greater specialist capacity; and overseas tertiary treatment only for cases that cannot be managed locally.
Among the proposals are the long-discussed establishment of intensive care units, expanded use of currently unfinished hospital space,
recruitment of more resident specialist physicians and stronger contract management to oversee future healthcare agreements.
Knowles said the new polyclinic model will broaden services available outside the hospitals, including dentistry, ophthalmology, laboratory services, diagnostic imaging, gynaecology and preventative screening, helping to reduce pressure on emergency departments while improving early intervention.
Misick also acknowledged that while the hospital system significantly improved healthcare access after opening in 2010, Government believes further reform is necessary to improve affordability, sustainability and the range of services available within the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The briefing marked the Government’s most comprehensive explanation to date of its plans beyond the InterHealth contract, signalling that officials now see the transition as an opportunity to redesign healthcare delivery rather than simply replace one operator with another.
Turks and Caicos – Every thriving community tells a story long before the first home is built. The placement of roads, the routing of
utilities, the protection of natural resources and the provision of schools, healthcare and emergency services are all the result of decisions made through careful planning. While these elements are often taken for granted, they form the foundation of safe, functional and sustainable communities.
As populations grow and communities evolve, planning becomes increasingly important. It helps ensure that development takes place in locations that can support it, that infrastructure keeps pace with demand, and that public services remain accessible to those who depend on them. Good planning also considers the future, creating communities that can adapt to changing needs while preserving the quality of life enjoyed by current and future generations.
Where development occurs without adequate planning, however, the effects can be felt far beyond the boundaries of a single neighbourhood. Roads may be unable to accommodate emergency vehicles, utilities can become overstretched, and environmental resources may come under increasing pressure. Delivering public services in these circumstances often becomes more difficult and more costly, creating challenges that affect entire communities rather than individual properties alone.
For this reason, sustainable development can only emanate from careful planning. It must be ensured that homes, infrastructure and
essential services develop together in a coordinated and responsible way. Every planning decision contributes to the broader picture of how communities function, grow and respond to future demands.
Supporting that process requires reliable information. Accurate data helps planners and policymakers understand where growth is occurring, identify emerging needs and make informed decisions about infrastructure, housing and public services. It also strengthens collaboration among government agencies by providing a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing communities.
Within the Turks and Caicos Islands, this collaborative approach is reflected in the work of the Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), which supports a range of initiatives aimed at improving the understanding of informal settlement development. Through activities such as GIS mapping, the Social Needs Assessment Survey and collaboration with partner agencies, the ISU contributes valuable information that helps support evidence-based planning and long-term decision-making.
Strong communities are not built overnight. They are shaped through thoughtful planning, informed decisions and cooperation across government and the wider community. As the Turks and Caicos Islands population continues to grow, maintaining that focus will be essential to creating communities that are safe, resilient and equipped to meet the needs of generations to come.
Education
Turks and Caicos Islands Students Excel at Cycle 13 WizdomCRM Regional AI Game National Awards Ceremony
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 22 July 2026: The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture proudly congratulates the students of the Turks and Caicos Islands on their outstanding performance at the Cycle 13 WizdomCRM Regional Virtual Sustainable Stock Market AI Game National Awards Ceremony.
The ceremony was held on Thursday, 16 July 2026, at the Blue Haven Resort, under the theme “Champions Today. AI Leaders Tomorrow.” It was hosted by the Ministry in collaboration with WizdomCRM.
Students across the Caribbean took part in the investment challenge, each beginning with a virtual portfolio of USD $25,000 and working to
grow it through simulated investments on regional and international stock markets. Throughout the competition, students were guided by Mr. Rabbit, WizdomCRM’s AI Tutor, and supported by E-Classroom sessions, building financial literacy, critical thinking and investment skills.
The Turks and Caicos Islands emerged as the region’s top-performing territory, claiming the top six regional positions, securing 14 of the Caribbean’s Top 20 places, and placing four schools on the regional leaderboard. Leading the region was Marc Roubentz-Perceus of TCIPS Comprehensive High School, who grew his portfolio to USD $370,336.63. He was followed by Joshua Creese of Raymond Gardiner High School in second place, and Stendro Chalas of TCIPS Comprehensive High School in third. Raymond Gardiner High School was also recognised as the Top School for Cycle 13.
Hon. Rachel M. Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, said: “I congratulate every student who took part in Cycle 13. You
have demonstrated the confidence to compete with the very best students regionally, and you have shown our country what is possible. This success is not luck; it is the result of an ecosystem built by students, teachers, parents, school leaders and partners who continue to invest in educational excellence. As we look ahead, the Ministry is in active discussions with WizdomCRM to expand access to its AI-powered learning tools, including Super AI, the AI Tutor, the Plagiarism Checker and the Grammar Checker, so that our young people are equipped with the future-ready skills they need to succeed.”
The Ministry extends sincere appreciation to the dedicated teachers who mentored the students, and to Rubis Turks and Caicos, whose sponsorship provided the cash prizes awarded to the top three regional champions. The Ministry also thanks WizdomCRM, participating schools, parents and stakeholders for their partnership in this achievement, which reflects the Ministry’s continued commitment to innovation, digital learning and youth development across the Turks and Caicos Islands.
WIZDOM CRM – Top Performers Cycle 13
| Position | Name | School | Portfolio Value | Regional Placement |
| 1st | Marc Roubentz-Perceus | TCIPS Comprehensive High School | $ 370,336.63 | 1st |
| 2nd | Joshua Creese | Raymond Gardiner High School | $ 264,841.31 | 2nd |
| 3rd | Stendro Chalas | TCIPS Comprehensive High School | $ 247,738.09 | 3rd |
| 4th | Ojed’harlie Jolissaint | Wesley Methodist School | $ 227,389.60 | 4th |
| 5th | Tyshawn Wright | Raymond Gardiner High School | $ 189,064.18 | 5th |
| 6th | Jah’keem Missick | Raymond Gardiner High School | $ 173,654.58 | 6th |
| 7th | Curvin Handfield | Raymond Gardiner High School | $ 156,984.89 | 8th |
| 8th | Chadazea Darville | Wesley Methodist School | $ 147,428.43 | 9th |
| 9th | Vivaan Castleton | British West Indies Collegiate | $ 120,833.83 | 14th |
| 10th | Damendine Simplus | TCIPS Comprehensive High School | $ 118,660.55 | 15th |
| 11th | Dyvion Louis | Raymond Gardiner High School | $ 111,572.81 | 16th |
| 12th | Colin Moriarty | British West Indies Collegiate | $ 106,854.81 | 17th |
| 13th | Kensley Felix | TCIPS Comprehensive High School | $ 101,285.06 | 18th |
| 14th | Redjino Saint-Louis | Raymond Gardiner High School | $ 99,927.39 | 19th |
TEACHERS
- Fexnel Colvert – TCIPS Comprehensive High School
- Valerie Olice – Raymond Gardiner High School
- Warren French – Wesley Methodist School
- Phyllis Boucher – British West Indies Collegiate
Top Performing School: Raymond Gardiner High School
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