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TCI: Hon. Karen Malcolm attends UWI/DISES International Conference Montego Bay, Jamaica

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#Providenciales, July 12, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Hon. Karen Malcolm, Minister for Education, Youth, Culture, Social and Library Services attended the DISES International Conference which was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica from June 26-28 2019, under the theme “Inclusion for All in a Changing World”.

Hon. Malcolm said the conference was an enlightening experience that provided her delegation, which included Mr. Jas Walkin, Education Officer for Special Needs, Ms. Betty-Ann Been, Director of the Special Needs Unit, Ministry of Health, Mr. Simon Wiltshire, Director of Health Policy and Planning, Ms. Sriya Smalling, Educational Psychologist and Mrs. Tracey Outten, Scholarship Manager, with a wealth of knowledge that can assist in developing and improving the area of special needs within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Minister stated; “It was indeed a privilege to be a part of this conference, my team and I have gain great insight into the practices and policies adopted both regionally and internationally in the area of Special Needs Education and we hope to use this knowledge to enact practices and policies to assist persons within our society with special needs.  Once, the Ministry identify the children with disabilities and put the provisions in place to deal with their needs, socially and otherwise, then the issue of inclusiveness will be less challenging.” 

While in Jamaica, attendees were able to take part in daily sessions that discussed for three days the rights of persons with disabilities, current practices and policies that exist for special needs inclusion both at a regionally and internationally level.

L to R – Jas Walkin, Senator Floyd Morris and Hon. Karen Malcolm

Attendees met the President of Division of International Special Education & Services (DISES) Mark C. Francis and other DISES representatives. DISES is an organization that shares its work around the world to fight for the rights of persons with disabilities.

Highlights of the conference included;

The conference’s opening ceremony was chaired by Hixwell Douglas (PhD) a person described as a professional motivational speaker, educator, counselor, storyteller and toast master for all occasions. Like his friend Senator Morris who was guest speaker at the conference, he is also visually impaired and was diagnosed from an early age.

Greetings were brought by Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Lady Allen, wife of the Governor General of Jamaica. The keynote address was done by Senator Floyd Morris (PhD), Director for the University of the West Indies Disability Studies.  Senator Floyd Morris was the first blind person to be appointed to the Senate of Jamaica in 1998 and was the keynote speaker at the National Symposium for Individuals with Special Needs held in Turks & Caicos last year November.                                                                                                                  

The delegation from the Turks & Caicos Islands were invited to a special “sit-down” with a member of Jamaica’s media where they discussed the milestones reached and challenges in the area of Special Needs in the country.  Additionally, Hon. Malcolm and her colleagues were able to share Turks and Caicos Islands Government current initiatives in the area of special needs as well as future plans at a special “update on the region” roundtable discussion.

TCI Delegation noted; The CEC-DISES connect provides a valuable resource for the Departments of Education, Social Services and Health as they organize themselves to work together to advance the well-being, education, and productive development of persons with disabilities. Our interactions with the varied disciplines represented at the Conference was beneficial in that it helped to affirm the progress we have made so far as well as highlight the distance we still need to go. A great deal will depend on defining and refining the departmental/interdisciplinary roles in this process inclusive of strengthening the legislative and policy framework, and advancing the provisions for special needs education.

Some of the topics covered during the three-day conference were: 

·         Developing a Road Map towards an Inclusive Society

·         Evaluating and Implementing effective programs and services for students with Disabilities

·         Using the Law to keep students with disabilities in school

·         Training Staff to support inclusion

·         What special accommodations exists for the children with disabilities in public schools?

·         Refining Inclusion: Policies Guiding Inclusion in a Special School

·         Measuring Indicators of Inclusive Education in the Caribbean: A Systematic Review

·         Preparing Special Education Teachers to Communicate Globally about Disabilities

In addition to Turks and Caicos Islands, there were representations from 9 other nations.   However, the Turks & Caicos Islands delegation was highlighted throughout the conference because we were third largest delegation and the only one to have a ranking Cabinet Minister in attendance.   At the end of the conference all attendees stated they were pleased with the contacts they had made and hope to share the knowledge they had gain within their countries.

Release: TCIG

Photo Captions:

Header: L to R in back row – Tracey Outten, Bettyann Been, Hon. Karen Malcolm, Jas Walkin & Simon Wiltshire along with St. Christopher School for the Deaf Dance Group

Insert: L to R – Jasmin Walkin, Bettyann Been, Hon. Karen Malcolm, Dr. Alice Farling, Mr. Mark Francis, Tracey Outten and Simon Wiltshire

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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REGULATIONS INTRODUCES “RATE YOUR RIDE” SYSTEM FOR TOURISTS VISITING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March, 2024 – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Department of Tourism Regulations is proud to unveil the “Rate Your Ride” system, a new initiative designed to enhance the vacation experience for tourists exploring our picturesque islands.

The “Rate Your Ride” system empowers tourists to provide valuable feedback on the quality of transportation services they receive while visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through an easy-to-use online form, tourists can rate factors such as cleanliness, comfort, safety, and professionalism of drivers, helping us to assure the highest quality of service standards across all modes of transportation.

By participating in the “Rate Your Ride” system, tourists play a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation services in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Their feedback will enable us to identify areas for improvement and ensure that every visitor enjoys safe, comfortable, and convenient travel throughout their stay in the Turks and Caicos.

The code will also be publicly accessible through the cooperation of volunteer drivers who will make the rating code available in their vehicles. Flyers and stickers displaying the code will be distributed at hotels, resorts and airports. The mandated display of these codes is expected to align with the rollout of our tourism regulations in 2025.

For more information about the “Rate Your Ride” system and other initiatives by the Department of Tourism Regulations, please visit gov.tc/tourismregulations/or contact us via telephone at 946-4970 and email at tourismregulations@gov.tc.

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THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH SERVICES CONDEMNS RECORDING OF PERSONS WHO ARE IN CRISIS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March 2024– The Department of Behavioral Health Services is appealing to the general public to refrain from recording and circulating videos of persons who may appear to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis at some point in their life. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Persons may struggle with very common conditions such as Anxiety and Depression or be diagnosed with more serious conditions like Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings about various mental health conditions and how they may manifest. In addition, there are a number of negative perceptions and misconceptions that society exhibits towards people with mental health problems. However, just as we would show care and concern for someone diagnosed with Cancer, or any other physical illness, in the same way, we need to be as caring and helpful to persons with mental illnesses”– stated Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Alicia Malcolm.

The Department is urging the public to call the following numbers if you see someone who appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis:

338-5473/338-3616: Providenciales, North or Middle Caicos

338-3614/338-3612: Grand Turk, South Caicos, Salt Cay

338-6301: Nights and Weekends

If someone is putting themselves or someone else in immediate, serious risk of harm, call 911.

The Department of Behavioral Health services is here to help and provides the following services which are free and confidential:

Location of above services:

o             Sam Harvey Building, Down Town, Providenciales,

o             Primary Health Care Department, Cheshire Hall Medical Center, Providenciales 

o             Department of Behavioural Health, Duncombe Alley, Grand Turk

 

Let’s all do our part in creating a community where people with mental health problems feel respected, supported and cared for. 

For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/ or the Department of Behavioral Health Services Faceebook on https://www.facebook.com/TCIDBHS/.

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Breaking Ground: TCI Could Lead in Regional Communication Standards

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Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, 27th March 2024: The PR, marketing, and communications sector is poised for potential growth and could lead the Caribbean region in terms of industry standards says Damian Wilson. Wilson’s suggestion comes after the release of a new research report into the current trends and future direction of the sector as a possible emerging industry in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

Wilson is the report’s author, which conveys the findings of research which he initiated. “One of the key research results is the considerable optimism by industry practitioners and government alike, with persons seeing growth potential. I believe that we can become regional leaders in this field. I believe that one of the initiatives that could be used to do this is by establishing a ‘TCI Centre of Communications Excellence’ within the TCI Community College. Such an institute would be dedicated to communication and media innovation with a particular focus on digital communications and ICT,” says Wilson.

He further explained, “I believe that the PR, marketing, and communications sector, like much of the country, is at a crossroads and could have an even greater impact on our socio-economic fabric. Some may have concerns about our small size, but I believe this makes us far more agile than our neighbours. All in all, any potential growth must be underpinned by new investments, professional development, and a strategy to integrate the sector into the broader economy.”

Wilson also said that he sees his research as a first step in understanding our own industry sectors in the TCI and would love to see more profound research and analysis conducted. He’s hoping that the report will spark discussion along those lines. The report is entitled ‘Current Trends and Future Direction: A Preliminary Report on the PR, Marketing, and Communications Sector in the Turks & Caicos Islands’. Anyone wanting a copy of the report can contact Damian Wilson via his email, damian.wilson.pr@gmail.com.

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