TCI: Child Care & Protection Amendment Passage

#Providenciales, September 27, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communication would like to inform the general public of the passage of the Children (Care and Protection) (Amendment) Ordinance 2018.

Among the amendments are:

• Replacing the Advisory Committee with the Safeguarding Children’s Board and setting out its functions;
• Specifying the circumstances around a child being considered “at risk of significant harm”
• Grounds on which the Court may make a care order
• Setting out the period of time a child may be kept in secured accommodation without an order of the Court.

Commenting on the amendments Hon. Vaden Williams Minister with responsibility for Social Development said; “Since coming to office, it has been my mission to ensure that greater resources and efforts are allocated to enhancing the state and functioning of the Social Development. The amendment to this Bill is therefore another significant and positive step in that direction, as it strengthens the protection of our children.”

He added; “It is well accepted that children are our future, so it naturally follows that their overall protection is vital to securing that bright future, which we all would like to see for them and our country. As Minister responsible for Social Development, let me also take this opportunity to say that protecting and safeguarding our children must be a collective and national effort.”

In closing Hon. Williams noted that going forward, he would be calling on and collaborating with all stakeholders throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands as they work assiduously towards making the lives of our children safer, prosperous and enriching.

Release: TCIG