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Commissioner Trevor Botting speaks to Grand Turk, following another destructive fire

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SERVICE WITH PRIDE AND INTEGRITY

 

#TurksandCaicos, February 2, 2022 – The community of Grand Turk has been dealing with the issue of homes, business and historical buildings being set on fire for many years, in fact, over the last two decades the culture of setting fires on Grand Turk has never been properly addressed and it shows no signs of abating. I have heard of many instances where for a number of year’s persons would set fires on the Island for no purpose and at great cost to the feeling of safety on Grand Turk.

Of course, the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force, will do everything within its’ powers to identify those responsible and, where there is evidence, charge and prosecute, we will be relentless in following this course of action.

The prevention and detection of crime is a priority of policing and always will be, however it should also be the priority for everybody. The instances of fires over such an extended period demonstrates clearly that this is a deep rooted societal issue, a culture of Grand Turk that needs the help of everybody to address.

Whilst I know I am not very popular when I say that crime is everybody’s issue, the fact is and always will be, that it is. People on Grand Turk know who is setting these fires, I would go so far as to say that there are people on Grand Turk who could provide the evidence we need to lock up those responsible for these wanton and destructive acts that are blighting the communities of Grand Turk and putting people and businesses in danger. If I am referring to you, if you know something you have a moral duty to tell us. If you don’t, you are being part of the problem. Now is the time to do something. now is the time to speak up and tell us what you know. Together, we can make a very real difference to the safety and security of the Grand Turk Communities by tackling the root cause and culture of this issue.

Let me be clear, so I am not misunderstood, I and my senior leadership team, together with the rest of the Force feel the weight of responsibility in keeping our communities safe and we will do all we can to do that, we know that it is our job but it’s a job we need to do in collaboration with our partner Government Agencies, our community partners and our communities. Working together is the only way we can deal with crime and the causes of it to build safer communities.

For our part, the RTCIPF is committed to working with our communities and the Community Policing programme will be further rolled out during 2022. This will include a school’s program to engage with our youth and dedicated community officers to ensure that we can listen and understand the concerns of our communities. For Community Policing to be successful we need the engagement of you, the people within our communities.

To drive forward the policing on Grand Turk, we have appointed two officers to key posts on the Island. Assistant Superintendent Franklyn Thomas is the new Divisional Commander and he is directly responsible for policing on Grand Turk, South Caicos and Salt Cay. It is his job to be visible and available to the local community so he can understand the concerns of the Community. In addition, a brand new Superintendent Post has been put in place with Dwight Gardiner filling that role. Supt Gardiner will be responsible for delivering community Policing across the TCI and he has overall responsibility for Community and response policing. The creation of this new post and the appointment of Supt Gardiner demonstrates our commitment to our communities and our commitment to build a safer place for the people of the TCI and those who visit.

These officers take up their posts today and the Deputy Commissioner and I are meeting with them this morning to discuss what is needed for Grand Turk. I am very confident that the community will see a change to policing on Grand Turk and I am asking you to support them, engage with them and tell us your concerns.

In the immediate future, a community meeting is being arranged for tomorrow by the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent Gardiner.

As you would expect, I have been in conversations with the Governor and the Government as we seek to build together a unified and sustainable solution to this problem and I know there is a determination within us all to make this happen.

We know you are concerned about the issue of arson on Grand Turk, we are focused and determined to bring those to justice but to get to effect sustained change, we need you to work with us. There is clearly a damaging culture of arson and fire setting and this has been the case for a long time. It’s imperative that we now work together to deal with this long standing issue and bring a feeling of safety back to Grand Turk.

May god continue to bless you and these beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos 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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