TCI News
TCIG Partners with Stakeholders to provide Hearing Assessments in TCI
#Providenciales, June 4, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – 21st-28th April 2018, the Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services, 
Special Needs Unit in collaboration with the Department of Education and Special Ed Officer welcomed Entheos, a group of volunteer audiologists through 1 World Foundation, an international non-profit charitable corporation comprised of volunteers from New York State, USA and Ontario, Canada. Their one week has truly been a success.
This initiative is in keeping with the Special Needs Units early detection and intervention strategy through the implementation of a national hearing assessment for all children aged four years plus, commencing with the Government schools. During this visit 358 persons were assessed, and persons requiring hearing devices were fitted with hearing aids. This visit was indeed successful. Of importance, foreign objects such as sea shells, beads, peas along with years of hard wax were removed from some individuals’ ears.
It is the belief of Entheos that everyone deserves access to hearing healthcare. This is done through three pillars:
- Leadership Through Service;
- Positive Objectivity &
- Community
According to the World Health Organization, more than 360 million people worldwide have a disabling hearing loss. Millions go without basic hearing healthcare which impact their lives. A teacher assisted by Entheos in Guatemala said it best, “not being able to hear is like being dead”. If an adult cannot hear, they tend to withdraw, potentially suffer from depression and disconnect from their community as well as it being a safety issue. For kids, it is even more important. If a child cannot hear, it impedes their ability to communicate and learn. Kids cannot go to school, make friends or have basic interaction. In many places throughout the world, this severely limits their future potential.
One of the most important programmes of Entheos’ is humanitarian hearing trips, providing sustainable hearing healthcare. This is done in three stages:
- Relief, Development and Empowerment. Entheos provides immediate relief in the aforementioned areas; as well as return for maintenance and upkeep as hearing devices need to be checked. Entheos believes in providing best practices for everyone they serve and that includes hearing aids maintenance.
- Development – Entheos works with local governments and healthcare providers so they can provide hearing healthcare services in between humanitarian trips.
- Empowerment allows local caregivers the ability to meet the needs of an area.
Interim CEO Nora Stewart said; “Entheos Audiology Cooperative is honored to work with children and adults to screen and treat their hearing. In the past three days, we have seen 293 persons many of whom now hear better after receiving treatment. We have identified one of the largest problems to be people trying to clean their ears using cotton swabs. This does not clean their ears but rather has a negative impact by pushing the wax farther into their ears. We also saw returning patients who received hearing aids last year needing service and maintenance for their hearing aids. The Entheos team has enjoyed working on the beautiful islands in Turks and Caicos, but even more beautiful than the waters is the spirit of the people. We want to thank the government for the opportunity.”
Last year 88 persons were assessed and thirty-nine persons fitted with hearing aids. The Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services, Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture and Library Services in collaboration with 1 World Foundation and are committed to developing sustainable programs for people with Special Needs in Turks and Caicos Islands.
For information please contact the Special Needs Unit at 338-2171.
Release: TCIG
Turks and Caicos, December 9, 2024 – What defines a person’s legacy: their struggles, their triumphs, or the impact they leave on others? For one Grand Turk native, Clyde Holiday, better known as “Crab”, the answer lies in an unwavering commitment to perseverance, faith, and community.
Born to an American Air Force father and a Turks Islander mother, this fearless son of the soil grew up in a small island community. From a young age, he embraced challenges, first as a motorcyclist and later as a skilled operator of heavy equipment and a businessman.
A passion for machinery and mechanics led him to Florida, where he perfected his craft and also worked in the restaurant industry. He later earned a certification as a marine mechanic. His entrepreneurial spirit, however, was not without hurdles.
Like many self-starters, he encountered failures in his early ventures. Yet, he refused to let setbacks define him. His first business venture came with a partnership chance with a Bahamian businessman in the meat industry which was a major breakthrough.
It proved that opportunity often arrives disguised as hard work, but success was fleeting. Entangled with the wrong crowd, he succumbed to addiction—a devastating chapter that brought legal troubles and shattered dreams.
What followed was a journey of redemption. While incarcerated, he experienced a moment of spiritual reckoning, drawing strength from his
faith and a Bible verse that stayed with him: “God gave men dominion over all things, but only He can change a man.”
Rejecting despair, he leaned into his community, church, and family, finding support in his first wife and guidance from local leaders. Emerging from this crucible, he rebuilt his life, uniting his faith and entrepreneurial drive.
His turning point came in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, when the storm devastated Turks and Caicos, leaving the government financially crippled.
This was his opportunity to step up and as a heavy equipment operator, he worked for years under an IOU agreement, repairing infrastructure and helping his country rebuild.
His sacrifices eventually paid off, enabling him to invest in a thriving grocery business and apartments.
What others viewed as disaster, he transformed into opportunity—a lesson in resilience for a nation still grappling with systemic challenges.
Today, he oversees seven businesses, embodying the potential of self-made success. Yet his greatest pride lies not in personal wealth but in community impact.
A staunch advocate for youth empowerment at an earlier age.
He calls for targeted education programs in schools to nurture trade skills, because not everyone is college bound. He also calls for unionization of suppliers to lower costs of goods, and reforms to strengthen economic self-sufficiency.
His philosophy challenges politicians and citizens alike to rethink their roles in how they can help shape the country’s future.
For skeptics, his story raises difficult questions about the role of personal responsibility versus systemic reform. Is it enough to inspire individuals, or must societies provide the structures to support their potential? His life suggests both are necessary. By turning personal struggles into public contributions, he exemplifies how individual resilience can intersect with collective progress.
When asked how he wishes to be remembered, his response is as inspiring as his journey: “For my love, charity, and care for the people of this great country.”
His life serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, faith, and a vision that extends beyond self-interest—a legacy that challenges us all to think bigger.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Employment Services Department is happy to announce the opening of our Online Work Permit Portal, effective 13th January 2025. This new system will make the work permit application procedure more efficient and straightforward.
Both will be able to access the portal:
• Corporate Applicants: Businesses or groups submitting applications on behalf of their staff members.
• General Applicants: People who apply for work permits directly.
A link to the portal APS Login and a demo video Application Processing System 18.Nov.2024.wmv with step-by-step instructions https://borderforceapps.gov.tc/download/guide.pdf is provided to ensure a smooth transition and ease of use. These resources will guide users through the registration process and demonstrate how to navigate and use the portal effectively.
This initiative is part of our commitment to improving efficiency, reducing processing times, and enhancing accessibility for all applicants.
We encourage all stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the portal before its launch. Training resources and detailed instructions are available to ensure a smooth transition.
For more information or assistance, please get in touch with the Employment Services Department at:
- Phone: 338-5639/4115
- Email: lsgibbs@gov.tc or cjoutten@gov.tc
- Website: APS Login
The Department appreciates your cooperation as we transition to this innovative platform to serve you better.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Pan American Health Organization hosted a Training of Trainers on the Strategic Risk Assessment using the Strategic Tool for Assessing Risk (STAR) in St George’s, Grenada from 5 -7 November 2024.
The objectives of this training were:
- to Train Health Disaster Managers and counterparts on the STAR Methodology
- conduct a multi-stakeholder strategic risk assessment for Grenada
The Strategic Tool for Assessing Risk (STAR) Tool has been developed by WHO (the World Health Organisation), to support member states in risk assessment using a standardised methodology.
STAR is a comprehensive toolkit to enable countries and regions to conduct a strategic, rapid, and evidence-base assessment of public health risk for planning and prioritisation of health emergency and disaster risk management activities.
Participants for this training included a multi-stakeholder group from Grenada as well as Health Disaster managers from Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, St Vincent, Trinidad and members from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
Joining the PAHO/WHO team as a facilitator for this training was the Director of Health Disaster, Education and Training of the Health Emergency Management Unit, Miss Charlene Higgs.
The Ministry of Health and Human Services congratulates Miss Higgs on this great accomplishment and her leadership role in the area of Health Disaster and Emergency Management in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health and Human Services Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth.
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