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Governor Visits South Caicos

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#SouthCaicos, July 07, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – His Excellency the Governor, Dr. John Freeman, accompanied by Mrs. Freeman, made a visit to the island of South Caicos on Thursday, 4th July.

In a full programme the Governor toured the Island and made calls on the District Commissioner and her staff, called at the Medical Clinic and the Police Station, visited the additional hurricane shelters identified since last September and attended the Graduation Ceremony at Margaret Basden School during which he brought Greetings to the Class of 2018.

Commenting on his visit to South Caicos, Governor Freeman said: “I was very pleased to be able again to visit the island of South Caicos earlier this week.  The residents of South Caicos, like the people across the Turks & Caicos Islands, are resilient and resourceful, and, following the passage of Irma and Maria are continuing to rebuild their lives and to prepare for this year’s hurricane season.

Such resilience is a testament to the character of the people of these Islands and to their ability to bounce back.  As well as benefitting from the opportunity to visit hurricane shelters, the Medical Clinic and the Police Station and to meet the DC and her team, I was especially grateful for the invitation to attend, in the High School’s fiftieth year, the Graduation Ceremony of the Majorie Basden High School.  The new graduates, in common with others I have met at other schools this past week, are shining examples of the talented young people in these Islands: TCI should be proud of them all.”

During his time in South Caicos the Governor also visited the alternative location for the Emergency Operations Command (EOC) in the event of an impending storm.  Governor Freeman’s attendance at the Majorie Basden High School graduation has made him the first Governor to attend the annual graduation ceremony.

 

Release: The Governor’s Office

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Unidentified Deceased Male Discovered in Grace Bay Area

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Turks and Caicos, July 5, 2025 – Around 7AM on today’s date 5th July 2025 officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) assisted by members of the public carried out a search in the community of Providenciales focusing on targeted areas.

Approximately 9:06 a.m. on Saturday, July 5th, 2025, while conducting the search operation in the Grace Bay area, one of the teams discovered the body of a deceased male in a decomposed state.

The discovery was made along Long Bay Road. The scene has been secured, and all appropriate partner agencies have been notified.

At present, the identity of the deceased has not been established. The RTCIPF will provide further updates as soon as the identification process is complete and the next of kin are informed.

Acting Commissioner of Police Mr. Rodney Adams on commenting on the discovery of the body. We the police extend condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and ask that the public not speculate and await positive identification of the deceased.”

This matter remains under active investigation.

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is appealing to anyone who may have information to contact 911 or the nearest Police Station. Information may also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 (TIPS)

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Ministry of Health and Human Services Participates in UKOTs Public Health Conference 2025

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PRESS RELEASE

 FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – The Ministry of Health and Human Services was represented at the 2025 UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) Public Health Conference held under the theme “Collaborative Approaches to Risk Communication” at the Park Plaza Victoria in London, from June 23–27, 2025.

Attending on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands were Dr. Nadia Astwood, Chief Medical Officer, and Mr. Lynrod Brooks, Director of Health Policy and Planning.

Hosted by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under its Civil Resilience Programme, the conference convened Chief Medical Officers and senior technical officers from several UK Overseas Territories including Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands – as well as from the Crown Dependencies, St. Helena, Ascension and Gibraltar.

The week-long event featured a range of expert-led sessions and workshops, focusing on strengthening risk communication and public health resilience across the UKOTs. Key agenda items included:

  • Introduction to Behavioural Science-Informed Risk and Crisis Communication
  • Good Practice for Effective Crisis Communication
  • Crisis Alert! A Scenario-Based Exercise
  • Identifying Key Health Threats and RCCE (Risk Communication and Community Engagement) Needs – Workshops Parts 1 & 2
  • Civil Food Resilience in the UKOTs
  • Risk Communication and EPRR (Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response) Frameworks
  • Practical Approaches to Risk and Crisis Communication
  • Communicating Risks in Violence Prevention: Public Health Approaches
  • Mental Health and Psychosocial Support During Crisis
  • Responding to Emerging Infections
  • Antimicrobial Resistance: Assessing the Global Threat
  • Cervical Cancer Elimination and RCCE
  • Tackling Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Vaccine Hesitancy
  • Enhancing Comprehensive Prevention and Management of Diabetes – Interactive Session

A highlight of the conference was the keynote address delivered by Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England. In his address, he emphasized both progress and persistent challenges in global public health.

Commenting on the importance of the conference, Dr. Nadia Astwood, Chief Medical Officer of the Turks and Caicos Islands, stated, “This gathering provided a critical opportunity to strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange across the Overseas Territories, particularly around preparedness and response to public health threats. Strengthening health security remains a top priority for the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

Hon. Kyle Knowles, Minister of Health and Human Services, echoed this sentiment, noting, “We are grateful for the continued support from the UK Government through the FCDO and UKHSA. This platform ensures that the Turks and Caicos Islands are part of a coordinated approach to building resilience and safeguarding public health.”

The Ministry’s participation in this conference forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance the national capacity for emergency preparedness, community engagement, and evidence-informed public health communication.

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Search for Missing American Tourist Intensifies in Turks and Caicos

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U.S. Officials, Family Join Local Efforts as Disappearance Enters Ninth Day

By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor and Wilkie Arthur | Eagle Legal News

 

Turks and Caicos, July 4, 2025 – The United States Department of State has confirmed it is aware of the disappearance of American citizen Brian Tarrence in Turks and Caicos, and the U.S. Embassy in Nassau is actively assisting in the ongoing investigation. Tarrence’s mother is now on the island, anxiously hoping for good news as the search for her son enters its ninth day.

Tarrence, 51, of New York, vanished on June 25 while vacationing with his wife in Providenciales. The couple was staying at the Inn at Grace Bay in a privately rented villa booked via Airbnb. CCTV footage reviewed by Eagle Legal News shows Tarrence walking away from the property around 3:00 a.m., alone and without signs of immediate distress. He has not been seen since.

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is treating the case as high priority, and a search operation is underway in Grace Bay, with efforts expanding to The Bight and nearby districts. U.S. private investigator Carl DeFazio, hired by Tarrence’s family, is also on the ground and working alongside local authorities.

“We are tracking any activity—credit cards, digital devices—that could point us toward his location,” said DeFazio. “This is a coordinated effort, and we are committed to bringing Brian home.”

Sources close to the investigation say Tarrence may have been in a vulnerable state prior to his disappearance. His wife reported that he had relapsed into alcohol use and was displaying increasingly erratic behavior, including signs of paranoia and delusional speech. He reportedly believed people were outside their villa and made concerning remarks hours before he disappeared.

When his wife woke that morning, Tarrence—and his phone and wallet—were gone. The devices remain unreachable, and no transactions or confirmed sightings have been reported.

His wife continues to cooperate fully with police, while his mother, who recently arrived in TCI, has joined local and diplomatic efforts in hopes of a safe resolution.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest police station or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-8477.

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