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Two new Queen’s Counsel for the TCI 

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#TurksandCaicos, August 27, 2021 – The Office of the Governor is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Oliver Smith and Mr. David Cadman as Queen’s Counsel (QC) to the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

The appointment of Queen’s Counsel is awarded for excellence in advocacy in the higher courts. This honour is not bestowed lightly; it is given to attorneys who, in addition to excellent advocacy, have demonstrated the highest integrity and conduct befitting the legal profession. In the United Kingdom (UK), Queen’s Counsel refers to a set of barristers and solicitors who the monarch appoints to be a part of Her Majesty’s Counsel learned in the law; the honour extends to British Commonwealth and Overseas Territories such as the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Between March and April 2021, applications were welcomed by the Queen’s Counsel Selection Panel – created under the Supreme Court (Appointment of Queen’s Counsel) Rules 2021 (the Rules) – from a wide variety of suitably qualified candidates who have practiced law for a minimum of ten years. After due consideration of the applications which included in person interviews, as well as the consideration of requisite application materials the Queen’s Counsel Selection Panel recommended two Attorneys who excelled, to His Excellency, the Governor, for this prestigious appointment.

 

Mr. Oliver Smith

Mr. Oliver Smith is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where he was awarded a Bachelor of Laws in 1982. In 1984, he was awarded a Legal Education Certificate from the Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica. He was called to the Bar of Jamaica in October 1984 and to the Bar of the State of New York in 1987. He has been admitted pro hac vice in the Federal Court of Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, Florida and Connecticut. In 2007, he was called to the Bar of the Turks and Caicos Islands and worked out of the firm of Stanfield Greene from 2007 to 2017 and from 2017 date, is a partner in the firm of Skippings Law. The majority of his practice has been as criminal defence counsel.

Mr.  Smith is also an appointed member of the International Criminal Court Defence Panel, the Hague, and is the serving Chairman of the Caribbean Football Union League Committee. He is currently serving in a quasi-judicial capacity as a member of the FIFA Appeal Committee which considers appeals emanating from the FIFA Disciplinary and FIFA Ethics Committees; and as a member of the CONCACAF Appeals Committee which considers appeals emanating from the CONCACAF Disciplinary Committee.

 

Mr. David Cadman

Mr. David Cadman is a graduate of the University of Durham, England where he completed a BA (Hons)(Dunelm) in Politics in 1992. He then received a Diploma in Law from the Holborn College of Law in 1995 and completed the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law in 1996. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in November 1996. During his early years of practice, he dealt with criminal cases at the magistrates’ court, Crown Court and Court of Appeal as both prosecutor and defence counsel.  He also undertook a wide variety of civil and family cases, as well as coroners’ inquests. He later specialized in public law family law cases, especially non-accidental injuries in infants (especially shaken baby syndrome cases) and related criminal prosecutions, usually acting for alleged perpetrators.

He was called to the Bar of the Turks and Caicos Islands in July 2005 and upon admission, practiced at Misick & Stanbrook from 2005 to 2006 and again in 2011. He then moved to Griffiths and Partners from 1 January 2012, where he currently practices and is currently a litigation partner in a wide array of civil litigation and dispute resolution cases.

Being appointed as Queen’s Counsel is sometimes referred to as ‘taking silk’ due to members wearing a particular silk gown, and is perceived as an honour to achieve in a Barrister’s career. Once given the right to wear a silk gown, a Queen’s Counsel then also has precedence over other Barristers in the Court amongst other privileges.

The ceremony to admit the new Queen’s Counsel to the Inner Bar of Turks and Caicos Islands, is scheduled to take place on 4th November of this year.

Today I congratulate Mr. Oliver Smith and Mr. David Cadman as excellent Attorneys at Law who have earned the right to add “QC” to their names after the admission ceremony.

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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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