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The Un-Stated State of the State

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By Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

 

A woman says she was going shopping at a front road located grocery store when an armed gunman threatened her with a pistol and grabbed her bag.  She told friends she was so shaken-up, she fled the scene and did not wait around for anything or anyone.

A rampage is on in Providenciales and no one is off limits to the overly aggressive males who have high-jacked peace of mind.  Worst of all, no one is speaking out.

Security video from Liz Bakery was appalling.  A gun shoved in the face of a little girl, her small monies snatched… women forced faced down on the floor and high powered weapons brandished in an environment which was anything but combative; come on this is our hometown, home grown, native bakery we’re talking about.

Then, the horrifying news that a little girl, only 10-years-old, was grased by a bullet in an armed invasion.  I wonder if this little girl was visited by government ministers and police; like the tourist man was when he was shot by a gun toting thug.

No advocacy from community or country leaders and it is this news organisation’s strong view, based on the variety of comments we receive, that this lack of public demonstration of concern and outrage is doing more damage than the criminals behind the crimes.

Another burning point; the hospital care in the country and its severe limitations.

Residents are dying at home and abroad and many believe it could be needlessly.  It continues to be a mystery, why TCI would return millions of dollars it is approved for by a major regional bank and the United Kingdom when we desperately need a trauma center to deliver on this kind of medical care at home.

An entire wing of the Cheshire Hall Medical Center is a ghost town, waiting to be brought to life and to serve some medical need of this little country.

Efforts at medical tourism are shelved when arguably, our nation provides an idyllic escape for those recuperating from medical procedures and while the TCI is small, it is obviously rich but cannot serve patients who need Intensive Care.

No intensive care unit in a country which welcomes 1.6 million tourists a year and has a home population of another 45,000.  Surely this can’t be right, it is certainly not good.

While nearby countries are prepared to take our US dollars, they are unprepared to adapt their laws to allow grieved loved ones who lose a relative to get them back in one piece and not dust.  Do we need stronger negotiators at the table because Magnetic Media is aware of a Turks and Caicos Islander who was returned to the country as a whole person after dying in the DR, reportedly to COVID-19.  All it took was heart and mental muscle – thank you to Evan Spencer of Spence Security.

At this point, based on the issues our news company is fielding on a daily basis, the optics on all of this are horrible and while the premier and opposition leader squabble over who has the money, islanders are increasingly afraid to visit stores for goods they need but can hardly afford and wonder, what happens to me or my loved ones if there is traumatic injury that the TCI Hospitals cannot handle.

High paying, high security, high profile jobs are not getting done, but it continues to be business as usual when results in many cases are deplorable.

How do you keep your job when you’re failing at it?  Words like accountability and transparency are tossed about, but they do not only refer to making information known; they also beg integrity when fulfilling the contract requirements.

Money is sweet but the people of the Turks and Caicos need more than money and if this journalist has to tell one what the people need, then maybe it’s time to end the contract and let’s get someone else who does know, to give the jobs a try.

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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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