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TCI Ministry of Education Communication Strategy under construction

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#TurksandCaicos, August 21, 2022 – One of the critical reform strategies emanating from the Ministry of Education, Labour, Employment & Customer Services Executive Retreat held in May 2022 sought to strengthen the Ministry’s Communications, Branding and Public Relations capabilities. The agreed output was the development of a Strategic Communication & Public Relations Policy that would provide a comprehensive blueprint to guide and bolster the Ministry’s communication efforts with our internal and external stakeholders.

To achieve this, the Ministry has mobilised a working group inclusive of a representative from each Department and Statutory Agency within its remit, that is tasked with the drafting of this policy. To support the working group and ensure a robust and comprehensive Communications Policy, capacity development in the dynamic area would be essential, to hone capacities and broaden knowledge and skills.

Through partnership with the National Security Secretariat, the Ministry of Education was able to share the services of a hired consultant Dr. Livingston White to facilitate a Training Workshop on Strategic Communications Planning & Public Relations exclusively for the Ministry of Education’s Team.

This Training & Development session took place on July 13th, 2022, and twenty-five members of staff participated in the hybrid session which allowed staff to participate face-to-face and virtually.

Facilitator, Dr. Livingston A. White is a senior lecturer and director (2018-2021) at the Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus where he teaches courses in Communication Analysis and Planning, Social Marketing/Health Communication and Communication Research Methodology both at the undergraduate and graduate level.

Additionally, he has conducted research and facilitated numerous workshops on communication. These include workshops on effectively communicating during crisis conducted for Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) in the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands and Barbados, as well as for the Department of Disaster Management & Emergencies, Ministry of Tourism, Heritage, Environment and Gaming, Turks & Caicos.

Vivian Easton Tyson, a local journalist with more than 20 years’ experience in hard news, entertainment, and sports writing was invited to make a presentation and facilitate discussions. Having a representative from the local media houses was important in this process, as engagement with stakeholders provides useful information to understand expectations, challenges, and other insights to inform our policy.

The Minister of Education, Labour, Employment and Customer Services, Hon. Rachel M. Taylor, noted the workshop training as “vital, because effective communication is fundamental to my Ministry’s programmes. It allows us to build relationships with stakeholders, avert misunderstandings and enables the Ministry to build a solid respectable image.”

The Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ms. Keisha Taylor lauded the programme as one which promotes “positive relationships between colleagues, media and other stakeholders as well as pro-social behaviours through the development of social and emotional skills.”

She also noted that, direct and open communication is fundamental to the Ministry’s communications Strategy and that effective communication is more than just pronunciation, intonation, or articulation, it enables the building of relationships, trust, unity, understanding, accountability and clarity of goals, objectives, and purpose.

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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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