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TCI: Overcrowding & Quality Education – one of key focuses of MoE’s Education Sector Plan 2018-2022

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#Providenciales, June 7, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Ministry of Education Officials explain that the Education Sector Plan 2018-2022 was crafted in response to concerns about overcrowding at public primary schools and the potential risk the overcrowding presented to the quality of education for young children.  ‘Provide equitable access to quality learning opportunities’ is the charge the Ministry has given itself with the support of the European Union (EU).

“Improving education is top priority for both the Government and the EU.   The support from the EU is aligned with the TCI Education Sector Plan and will allow the government to build more public classroom spaces to absorb the anticipated increase in enrolment that is forecasted in the coming years.  It will also contribute to building disaster resilience,” said EU Ambassador, Her Excellency Malgorzata Wasilewska.

The issue of Overcrowding & Quality Education is being more than adequately addressed with construction started on a fourth government-run primary school in Providenciales. On March 28, 2019 the cornerstone was laid for Long Bay Primary School which will add 30 new classrooms and spaces for 550 students.

As far as Overcrowding & Quality Education is concerned  there are two targets identified within the Education Sector Plan,. The first target focuses on improvement to access to quality education for students from ages 4 through to 16-years old while target two is focused on improving students’ access to high quality instruction through the development and implementation of an infrastructure and equipment modernization plan in each school by December 2018.

The pair of powerful storms dealt a harsh blow to the education sector of the Turks and Caicos Islands. At least four public schools were knocked out of commission and some 4,000 students were impacted by the damages which ranged from minor to severe.

The Education Sector Plan outlines the actions to ensure spaces are established and diverse enough for all students.  It aims to increase ideal spaces for early childhood and secondary students; to smartly rebuild spaces lost or damaged as a result of the 2017 hurricanes; to increase capacity at current primary schools; build new classroom blocks to accommodate technical and vocation learning; and to upgrade laboratories for enhancements in the sciences and also for teaching and learning in vocation and technical disciplines. 

The Ministry of Education, within the Plan has highlighted the need for monitoring the rate of enrolment for tertiary education; the number of Infrastructure Modernization and Maintenance Plans developed and implemented; the number of Ministry Staff trained to appraise school construction and building and equipment maintenance; the percentage of students completing at least one CVQ programme; the number of Special Needs children within public schools and the number of additional primary school spaces available in Providenciales.

 “Improving the Education System in the TCI…..Together we can do it”

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Multi-Agency Operation Conducted to Serve Notices of Illegal Occupation in Blue Hills

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Friday, 29 May 2026The Crown Land Unit (CLU), in coordination with the Informal Settlements Unit (ISU) and key partner agencies, conducted a multi-agency enforcement operation on Thursday, 21 May 2026, in sections of the Blue Hills and Stammers Run areas of Providenciales. The exercise focused on the serving of Section 22 Notices and Letters of Illegal Occupation on parcels where unauthorised occupation and development activity were identified.

The operation was led by the Crown Land Unit, with coordination and support provided by the ISU. Additional support was provided by the TCI Border Force, while security for the exercise was provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. All agencies worked collaboratively to ensure the operation was carried out in a safe, orderly, and controlled manner.

The exercise was conducted pursuant to the mandate of the Crown Land Unit under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown Land. During inspections conducted across multiple parcels within Block 60502, several unauthorised structures constructed of concrete and timber were identified. Occupied structures were served with Letters of Illegal Occupation, while Notices of Illegal Occupation were affixed to unoccupied structures or served where appropriate.

In total, fourteen (14) Letters of Illegal Occupation and thirteen (13) Notices of Illegal Occupation were served during the operation. Notices and letters were either delivered directly to occupants or posted on structures in instances where occupants or the persons responsible for the construction were absent.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government wishes to emphasise that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown Land constitute breaches of the Crown Land Ordinance and undermine lawful land administration and planning processes.

The Government remains committed to protecting Crown land, preventing unlawful occupation, and supporting safe, orderly, and sustainable development across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Multi-agency operations such as these form part of ongoing efforts to uphold the rule of law while advancing broader objectives related to land management, public safety, and community development.

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TCI Aviation Notice System Moves from U.S. to U.K. Platform

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Turks and Caicos, May 29, 2026 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority has quietly implemented a significant change to how critical aviation notices are distributed, shifting the publication of its Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs, from the United States system to a United Kingdom-based platform.

In a statement issued to the aviation community, TCIAA advised that effective May 13, 2026, at noon, all Turks and Caicos Islands NOTAMs began being published through the UK NOTAM Office, operated by National Air Traffic Services (NATS), under the U Series classification.

The move means pilots, airlines, dispatchers and flight planning teams can no longer rely on the Federal Aviation Administration’s traditional NOTAM source to locate current operational notices for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

NOTAMs are essential aviation communications used to alert pilots and operators to temporary changes that could affect flight operations, including runway closures, navigational aid outages, airspace restrictions and other safety-related information.

According to the Airports Authority, the transition is part of a broader aviation modernization programme and will remain in place until TCIAA commissions its own Aeronautical Information Management and Aeronautical Message Handling System capability.

The authority stressed that the change does not affect flight operations or aviation safety.

“At this time, there is no interruption to air traffic operations or safety-critical services,” the TCIAA said, noting that operational information will continue to be communicated through established Air Traffic Control channels.

The authority urged airlines, charter operators, flight planners and other aviation stakeholders to ensure their operational teams are aware of the new publication source to avoid missing important notices.

While largely administrative, the shift represents another step in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ effort to modernize its aviation infrastructure and align more closely with international aviation information management standards.

The Airports Authority thanked stakeholders for their cooperation as the transition moves forward.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Dog Owners Charged After Pack Attack Kills Dog at Taylor Bay Beach

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Turks and Caicos, May 29, 2026 – A fatal dog attack at one of Providenciales’ most popular beaches has resulted in swift enforcement action, with authorities identifying and charging the owners of the animals involved.

The Department of Agriculture says a group of dogs attacked and killed another dog at Taylor Bay Beach in Chalk Sound on May 18, in an incident witnessed by beachgoers and visitors.

Investigators moved quickly, determining that the dogs involved were registered and owned by residents of the Chalk Sound community. Accompanied by officers from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, Agriculture officials visited the owners and issued citations under the Dog Control Ordinance.

Each owner was fined a total of $1,500, including a $1,000 penalty for allowing a dog to roam in a public space without a leash and a $500 fine for having a dog exhibiting aggressive behaviour in a public area.

While the attack ended with the death of a dog, authorities noted that the outcome could have been far worse had a person, child or tourist become caught up in the incident.

Minister of Agriculture Zhavargo Jolly said the government takes incidents involving uncontrolled or aggressive animals seriously and praised the swift response by enforcement officers.

“While this was an isolated incident, it is unacceptable and swift enforcement action was taken by the Department of Agriculture and the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force,” said Jolly.

The minister stressed that residents and visitors should be able to enjoy public beaches safely and that dog owners have a responsibility to keep their animals secured and under control at all times.

The Department of Agriculture is reminding pet owners that dogs must be leashed in public spaces and properly registered. Officials are also encouraging owners to ensure their animals are microchipped as part of responsible pet ownership practices.

The incident remains under review, but authorities say the case demonstrates that violations of the Dog Control Ordinance will result in enforcement action.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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