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TCI: Communication Boost to DDME ahead of Hurricane

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#TurksandCaicos, July 22, 2021 – The breakdown of essential communications is one of the most widely shared characteristics of all disasters. Whether partial or complete, the failure of telecommunications infrastructure leads to preventable loss of life and damage to property, by causing delays and errors in emergency response and disaster relief efforts.

The adverse effect of Hurricanes Ike and Hanna in 2008 severely damaged the emergency communications infrastructure in Grand Turk, South Caicos and Providenciales. In 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the Turks and Caicos Islands and brought extensive destruction to the still-recovering emergency communications infrastructure.

Investments in modern telecommunications infrastructure have provided powerful and flexible tools to enable the Turks and Caicos Government to cope with crisis, and quickly relocate and restore displaced or disrupted communications capabilities.

Today we can begin to phase away from the traditional methods of mounting antennas on lamp poles and on the sides of building structures to obtain the required height and positions. The conventional Antenna Towers are not ideal for our geographical location since they are fixed to the ground and are unable to be moved before a storm, hence they sustained severe damage during past hurricanes.

Based on lessons learnt, three Mobile Antenna Towers were procured from Aluma Tower Company to enhance the emergency communication operations of the National Emergency Operations Center. The official handover and commissioning ceremony for these mobile antenna towers took place on Monday 19th July 2021, at the DDME Providenciales Office.

Acting Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams reflected on Hurricane Irma disruption to communication across the Islands in 2017. She highlighted the importance that emergency communications play in disaster preparedness and response and commended the DDME for the accomplishments made towards enhancing emergency communications in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

These retractable mobile towers are critical assets that reduce the impact of physical destruction to DDMEs emergency communication infrastructure during a disaster. It allows seamless preservation and swift restoration of emergency communications after a storm/hurricane.

During the ceremony, the Honourable Arlington Musgrove, Minister with the responsibility for Disaster Management delivered remarks and stated that he is proud of this strategic investment.

“While there is much more work that needs to be done in the future, I am confident that we are building the foundation to develop a robust and reliable Emergency Communications System with the required redundancies in the Turks & Caicos Islands. During this first phase, three mobile antenna towers were procured and stationed on Providenciales, South Caicos and Grand Turk. For the second phase, we will purchase an additional three (3) mobile antenna towers to place on North Caicos, Middles Caicos and Salt Cay.”

He went on to encourage other Departments, and Private Sector agencies, to invest in mitigation and preparedness throughout their organizations.

This positive development is a major achievement for the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies and by extension the Turks and Caicos Government.

Director (Actg.) Mike Clerveaux concluded that the “…DDME in our quest to build and foster investments in Disaster Management will continue to pursue further innovation to build a resilient future for these islands.”

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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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