TCI News
TCI: Helping Our Youth – A Crash Course in Psychological First Aid
#Providenciales, November 21, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – A call to change our perception towards mental health and offer support – With all that is happening in the news and being seen on social media, it is 
evident that supporting positive mental health should be a priority on every Nation’s agenda. Of course, issues such as communicable diseases, emergency medical care, cancer and other physical illnesses should also be seen as priorities, however, it is irrefutable how much emotional trauma can be directly correlated to an individual’s lack of good mental health. We are not simply speaking here of those clinically diagnosable mental conditions, but also highlighting very basic psychological concerns that our fellow man may be battling. Unfortunately, when a person’s mental health needs are not addressed it can at times result in tragic outcomes for the individual and others around them.
Young people are most vulnerable to maladaptive behaviours due to lack of positive mental health practices. This is evident not only in the Americas but also in United Kingdom Overseas Territories and yes even here in our beautiful by nature islands. Journalists in the Cayman Islands during the month of July 2018, released articles highlighting increased juvenile crime in the territory. These findings have reportedly been linked to lack of positive mental health practices. Hence the need to stress the importance of practicing psychological first aid at an early age, and for adults and professionals in youth professions to employ mindfulness at all times.
Why the need for psychological first aid?
It is customary to put a dressing on a cut or ingest antibiotics to treat an infection, right? In fact, these practices are so customary that one’s common sense may be brought into question if such techniques are not applied when necessary. So why isn’t the same true of our mental health? We are expected to just “get over” psychological wounds — when as anyone who’s ever experienced rejection or agonized over a failure knows only too well, emotional injuries can be just as crippling as physical ones. We therefore need to learn how to practice psychological first aid.
How can I practice psychological first aid with my children?
- Acknowledge their emotions, with keen attention to those which may result in negative thoughts/behaviours such as embarrassment, pain, guilt etc.
- Help them to rewire their initial reactions to failure (defense mechanism)
- Monitor and guard their self-esteem. Help them to not criticize and condemn themselves.
- Help them to find positive activities that will deter negative thoughts and produce positive ones
- Find meaning in loss
- Help them not to ruminate or linger in negative feelings.
Practicing emotional hygiene takes a little time and effort, but it will seriously elevate your entire quality of life.
Understanding the role, we play. Are we barriers to persons seeking help?
How many times have you or someone that you know insisted that a friend was “being bipolar” because they were moody, or maybe you labelled someone as depressed because they cried or (in your opinion) overreacted to a situation. Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? The sad reality is that, yes, a lot of people will be able to say that they have heard these sorts of things being said on a daily basis. The use of mental illnesses as an adjective to 
describe certain emotions and sentiments has simply become a large component of our colloquial language. What is disturbing though is that many of us go further in labelling persons as “crazy” or “insane” and offer little to no encouragement to help channel individuals into appropriate mental health services. As a result of these types of statements or actions, many persons shy away from or are reluctant in seeking help because of how they think they may be viewed or labelled.
It is time for us to look at mental health from a different perspective. We must change the negative view that currently prevails about persons with mental health issues and seek ways to support better practices for our current and future generations.
Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence, 649-338-3613 Grand Turk or 649-338-4737 Providenciales.
Press Release: TCIG
News
The Turks and Caicos Islands Set Positive Start to 2026 with Increase in January Stayover Arrivals
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – (February 25th, 2026) – The Turks and Caicos Islands began 2026 on a positive note, with stayover arrivals in January surpassing the same period in 2025.
Preliminary figures indicate that 56,830 stayover visitors arrived in January 2026, representing a two percent increase year-on-year. The steady growth continues the positive momentum experienced at the close of 2025.
Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant, attributed the encouraging performance to new collaboration with tour operator partners as well as increased airlift from key source markets.
“We anticipated a strong January performance following the growth recorded in November and December. The winter season has traditionally been a robust period for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and this year that strength has been further supported by enhanced collaboration with partners and expanded airlift from Canada and the United States We are cautiously optimistic about maintaining this upward trajectory in the weeks and months ahead.
Cruise Sector
In cruise, preliminary figures show 122,935 cruise passenger arrivals in January, reflecting a 15 percent decrease compared to January 2025.
The decline is attributed to a reduction in cruise calls during the month. A total of 33 vessels called on Grand Turk in January, seven fewer than during the corresponding period last year.
Marketing Shows
As part of its ongoing efforts to position the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier luxury destination, Experience Turks and Caicos has been actively participating in the Travel & Adventure Shows across several major cities in the United States.
The destination has already been showcased in Washington, D.C., New York, and Chicago, with Fort Lauderdale and Denver scheduled in the coming weeks.
Public Relations Manager Laura Dowrich represented the Turks and Caicos Islands alongside the destination’s U.S. marketing agency, ABA Global.
Beaches Turks & Caicos – Stone Creek Travels
“One of the most encouraging takeaways from these shows is that the Turks and Caicos Islands is indeed on travellers’ radar. We met many visitors who shared fond memories of their time here, others who already have trips booked and were seeking recommendations on activities and dining, and many more who aspire to visit. It was a pleasure highlighting our multi-island destination and sharing the many experiences that make the Turks and Caicos Islands truly special,” said Ms. Dowrich.
Awards & Recognition
Building on a stellar year of accolades in 2025, the Turks and Caicos Islands has begun 2026 with additional international recognition.
The destination earned a Gold Badge in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, placing #5 in Best Family Vacations in the Caribbean and #5 in Best Beaches in the World. In the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, Grand Turk was ranked #10 among the Best Caribbean Islands to Visit.
About Experience Turks and Caicos
Middle Caicos Dragon Cay Resort
Experience Turks and Caicos is the official destination marketing and management organisation (DMMO) for the Turks and Caicos Islands. The organisation is committed to positioning the destination as a premier, sustainable luxury tourism hub. By leveraging smart tools, data-driven strategies, and stakeholder collaboration, Experience Turks and Caicos focuses on enhancing the visitor experience and fostering long-term industry success.
About the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands consist of two island groups in the Lucayan Archipelago—the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands. Home to some of the world’s most pristine beaches, including the award-winning Grace Bay Beach, the destination is renowned for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, luxury accommodations, and rich cultural heritage. Each island and cay offer a unique experience:
- Providenciales boasts world-class resorts, fine dining, and high-end tourism offerings.
- Grand Turk serves as the vibrant hub for cruise tourism and historical exploration.
- The sister islands provide a gateway to nature, adventure, and authentic local culture.
Recognised as the world’s best-kept secret, the Turks and Caicos Islands offer effortless luxury, with seamless connectivity via direct flights from major cities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Photo Captions:
Grand Turk – slow travel with us
North Caicos – Correy Forbes
South Caicos Sail Rock
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 25 February 2026: Staff of the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) participated in a one‑day Professional Staff Development Workshop on Thursday, 19th February 2026. The session was facilitated by former DDME Director (2011–2021) and current Permanent Secretary of the Governor’s Office, Dr. Virginia Clerveaux.
The in-house workshop was organised by the DDME Training Unit, to focus on the National Disaster Management Framework, strengthening staff understanding of their roles and responsibilities within disaster management. The session also aimed to enhance the effectiveness of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and reinforce inter‑agency coordination.
Drawing on her extensive experience in disaster management in the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as several deployments to CDEMA member states including Haiti, The Bahamas, and Jamaica, Dr. Clerveaux provided practical insights that reinforced key concepts and clarified operational expectations. Staff members actively participated in discussions and shared recommendations to improve sub‑committee performance and overall departmental efficiency.
To support learning retention, the workshop incorporated pre‑ and post‑assessments, enabling participants to evaluate their understanding and track improvements.
Acting Director of DDME, Mr. Kevaun Lucas stated: “Investing in the continued development of our team is essential to strengthening national resilience. This and future planned workshops will help to reinforce our commitment to building a highly skilled, well‑coordinated workforce capable of leading and supporting disaster management efforts across the Turks and Caicos Islands. I am proud of the team’s engagement and encouraged by the meaningful contributions they made throughout the session.”
This Professional Staff Development Workshop forms part of DDME’s ongoing commitment to enhancing internal capacity, strengthening operational coordination and improving overall departmental synergy as the agency continues to advance national preparedness and response capabilities.
Photo Captions:
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 20 February 2026 — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in collaboration with key
government agencies, coordinated a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Block and Parcel 60609/33 in the Five Cays area.
The exercise was led by the Crown Land Unit, pursuant to its statutory mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land. The ISU coordinated the operation, with support provided by the Planning Department and the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, while the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force ensured security throughout the activity.
The enforcement action followed a series of inspections conducted by the Crown Land Unit throughout Five Cays, which identified several illegally constructed buildings made of concrete and timber on sections of the subject parcel. In keeping with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance, occupied structures were served Letters of Illegal Occupation, delivered by hand to occupants and
posted on structures where individuals were absent. Incomplete and unoccupied structures were served Notices of Unauthorized Occupation pursuant to section 22 of the Ordinance. A total of ten (10) Letters of Illegal Occupation and three (3) Notices of Unauthorized Occupation were issued during the exercise.
The Informal Settlements Unit reiterates that these coordinated enforcement exercises form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the law, protect Crown land, and manage informal settlements in a structured and lawful manner. Members of the public are reminded that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown land is unlawful and subject to enforcement action.
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