TCI News
International Human Rights Day Message
Providenciales, December 12, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10th — the day the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): a milestone document proclaiming the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being.
After a year marked by the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which culminated on November 20th , 2019 the UN plan is to capitalise on the current momentum and spotlight the leadership role of youth in collective movements as a source of inspiration for a better future.
Children are the most important group within our society, they are also the most vulnerable. It is our children that will become the leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow, it is they that hold the future in their hands. As such, it is critical to the future of our society that they are taught about the relationship between healthy societies and a respect for human rights. This is one of the functions that the Turks and Caicos Islands Human Rights Commission performs.
Since 2008 when the Commission was first established the organisation has been visiting schools and giving talks to children about the respect for human rights and why it is so important. Over the last 12 months the Director of the Commission, the Education Officer and the Investigator have all been involved in giving talks to children in our local schools, it is one of the functions that everyone working in the Turks and Caicos Human Rights Commission values.
However, teaching children, or adults, about human rights is not sufficient to embed a respect for human rights in their lives. It is also critical that we respect their rights. A person whose rights have been abused is much more likely to abuse the rights of another than a person who has had their rights protected and respected. It is critical that we respect the rights of our children and help them to become the adults that we desire them to be. To this end, one of the largest projects that the Human Rights Commission has completed in the last year is a review of publicschool infrastructure in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Education is one of the most important aspects of childhood development, in cooperation with parents and the community it is where the moral and intellectual development of the young children and emerging adults takes place. It is in school that children learn where they fit into the world and what their strengths and weaknesses are, it is here more than anywhere else that they learn about cooperation and teamwork. It is critical to the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands that children are given every opportunity to succeed.
The Commission is very pleased that many of the schools that were visited are good learning environments and most of the schools that the Commission criticised had some redeeming features. However, the Commission was disappointed to find that two years after the storms of 2017 there were many students still learning in very poor environments.
Across the world there are young people taking a stand against authoritarian governments and climate change inactivity. The Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg has taken on world leaders in her efforts to advocate for the environment. Malala Yousafzai became the youngest Nobel laureate in history for her work fighting for women and girls to receive an education in the Middle East.
Five American teenagers, David Hogg, Jaclyn Corin, Emma González, Cameron Kasky, and Alex Wind responded to being involved in the Parkland School shooting by advocating for change to the firearm laws in the United States. Mari Copeny was only 8 years old when she began advocating for the right to clean water, bringing US President Barack Obama to Flint, Michigan, to highlight the plight of local people.
In the Turks and Caicos Islands we have our very own Jessica Corvil who was the winner of the Youth Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2018 and has worked to promote the rights of girls in North Caicos and throughout the country. In just under a week the 2019 Humanitarian of the Year will be announced at the Gala Event in the Shore Club and the nation will celebrate the activism of another young Turks and Caicos resident. This only serves to highlight the power that young people possess to both influence and change our societies, it is the responsibility of all of us to support ‘Youth Standing Up for Human Rights’.
Release: Turks and Caicos Islands Human Rights Commission
Turks and Caicos, October 28, 2025 – We are closely monitoring the impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica, and our thoughts and prayers are with our regional neighbours for their safety and well-being
We are now entering a critical period as Hurricane Melissa advances towards the Turks and Caicos Islands. Current projections indicate that Hurricane Melissa will begin to impact the Turks and Caicos Islands around midday tomorrow, Wednesday, 29th October.
This morning, Her Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Premier chaired a State of Preparedness Meeting. All Government agencies and critical services are mobilised. The safety and protection of every person across our Islands remains our highest priority. Our emergency response teams are prepared and the TCI Regiment is deployed across each of our Islands to support community readiness and immediate response. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are on active duty, with additional officers in North Caicos, Salt Cay, South Caicos and Grand Turk.
At this time, the hurricane is moving north-northeast. The country is expected to experience tropical storm conditions, heavy rainfall and
significant storm surge. The storm surge poses a serious concern for low-lying coastal areas especially along our western and southern coastlines, which may result in coastal flooding. Based on the most current weather projections and anticipated impacts for the Turks and Caicos Islands, the National Executive have agreed the following actions:
1. Evacuation Advisories
Residents in specific low-lying and flood-prone coastal areas are likely to experience significant storm surge of 2-4 feet with accompanying rainfall. Strong advice is now place for residents in these areas to relocate to designated shelters which will be open from 4pm this afternoon. These areas include:
Middle Caicos
- Conch Bar Nearest Shelter: The Community Centre
North Caicos
- Sandy Point Nearest Shelter : Sandy Point Community Centre
- Whitby Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School
- Bottle Creek Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School
Providenciales
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- Chalk Sound Nearest Shelter Enid Capron Primary School
- Five Cays Nearest Shelter: Enid Capron Primary School
- Discovery Bay Nearest Shelter: All Saints Church, Leeward Highway
- Juba Sound Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School
- Long Bay Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School
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South Caicos
- Cockburn Harbour Nearest Shelter: Community Centre
- Old Airport Road Nearest Shelter: Community Centre
Should an evacuation order become necessary, it will be issued following the 6:00 PM Advisory this evening from the TCI National Weather Service.
2. Activation of Emergency Operations Centre
The National Emergency Operations Centre in Providenciales and all Islands Emergency Operations Centres will be activated at 4:00 PM today.
3. Shelters Access
Shelters across all Islands will open today at 4:00 PM to receive members of the public.
4. Shelter-in-Place
A Strong Shelter-in-Place Advisory is in place for all islands, commencing at 10:00 PM tonight. This will be in place until the all clear has been issued.
This means that from 10:00 PM tonight, all residents should be off the road, in a safe location, either at home or a designated shelter.
Please note that this position may be revised following the 6:00 PM Advisory from the TCI National Weather Service, depending on updated storm projections.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) has confirmed that all airports remain fully operational for today. They will advise the public about ongoing operations dependent on the weather impacts.
In times such as this, the role of commercial entities extends beyond business – it becomes a vital part of the community’s resilience. All retailers and service providers are urged to uphold their humanitarian responsibilities by maintaining fair pricing and ensuring essential goods and services remain accessible to all.
Residents and visitors are reminded to adhere strictly to all official advisories and evacuation orders as they are issued. Avoid unnecessary movement, secure your property, and ensure that you and your family are prepared with essential supplies. Stay prepared and stay safe.
Turks and Caicos, October 24, 2025 – Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey delivered an impassioned address to male students at Clement Howell High School, calling on them to recognize their power, seize their potential, and “awaken the sleeping giants” within.
In a message that blended humility, faith, and personal experience, the Commissioner reminded the boys that the decisions they make today will shape their future.“The choices you make today determine who you become tomorrow,” he said.
Bailey, who revealed he was the first in his family to attend high school, urged the students to embrace education and discipline as tools of
transformation.“Knowledge is power. If you want to be a real man, you need to read,” he told them. “Remember your potential — if others can do it, so can you. Some of you are sleeping giants waiting to be awakened.”
He emphasized that circumstances of birth do not dictate destiny, challenging the young men to carry self-respect, faith, and moral conviction wherever they go. “Self-respect is key; respect yourself, respect others, and respect God,” he said. “The circumstances you were born into do not define who you are.”
The Commissioner also spoke about resilience, advising that true strength often lies in restraint.
“There will be challenges, and people may try to impede your development — but rise above negativity. Sometimes, strength means walking away,” he said. “Some of you are sleeping lions; it’s time to awaken that instinct and rediscover your true potential.”
In closing, Commissioner Bailey delivered a stirring challenge:
“Each morning, look in the mirror and remind yourself that you were created by God and are capable of great exploits. You are a possibility with potential. Step forward with confidence — this is your country, your islands. Be the best version of yourself.”
Following his speech, the Commissioner engaged the students in open dialogue, answering questions and listening to their perspectives on issues affecting young men in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.
