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ADDRESS BY GOVERNOR NIGEL JOHN DAKIN, REGARDING THE DAY OF MOURNING IN TCI, TO MARK THE STATE FUNERAL OF HER LATE MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II

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Good day Turks and Caicos,

A few words regarding the coming day’s events to note the passing of our late Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Following a minute’s silence at 3 pm on Sunday, the Government have announced a day of mourning on Monday 19th September.  On that day, the Premier and I will be seated in Westminster Abbey representing the peoples of these Islands, alongside the Heads of State from 170, or so, Countries and Territories. It is a remarkable moment, marking the end of the second Elizabethan age.

Things that bring us closer, nationally or globally, that remove barriers and engender empathy, are increasingly special moments and this is one such example. You may have seen a Union Flag projected onto the Matterhorn in Switzerland and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Her late Majesty’s image was projected on the Sydney Opera House while piles of floral tributes were laid outside our Consulate in Hong Kong. Symbolic of Her reach outside of Her Realm.

At the time of a major Ukrainian counter-offensive President Zelensky took time to visit our Embassy to sign the Condolence Book. In the United States the Speaker of the House of Representatives, held a minute’s silence and adjourned the House, while the famous route along Pennsylvania Avenue was lined with Union Flags at half-mast.

Anyone watching the miles of good natured and patient people queuing for hours to offer their last respects at her late Majesty’s lying in State, or on Her journey through Scotland, or from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall will, I suspect, have taken a moment to either be reassured, or pleasantly surprised, by this remarkable demonstration of quite what a unifying force the late Queen has been.  Pageantry and participation helps us move from one era to another – it allows us to be steady and sure-footed when change normally brings uncertainty and unease.

Here in TCI, some will want to use Monday to reflect on the life of the Queen and also the lives of the remarkable people, in their own families, some who are still alive, but many who will have passed who were from our late Queen’s generation.  It is, for example, impossible for me to think of Her late Majesty without thinking about the stoicism and sacrifice of my own parents, and the role she played, both as a childhood role model during the war, and then providing the backdrop to their lives – a living example of never complaining, always hardworking and life-long service to others.

For some it will be a chance to mourn in a wider sense. Many have lost close relatives, not at the grand old age the Queen reached, but in circumstances where a close relative or friend have been taken from them, suddenly, with no time to prepare. I hope this is a day that provides a quiet time to reflect on those they and we have lost, at the same time the rest of the Territory is in a similar frame of mind.

It might be a day where some choose to invest time in their family or go to Church. Her late Majesty, I think, would very much approve of that approach.  She was a committed Christian and a committed mother.  As parents, we all lead feverishly busy lives where the conflicting priorities of: work; those who we need to care for from the generation before us and those who we need to give love and attention to from the generation behind us, compete for attention along with many other pressures.

Often the last people we have proper time for, are the people most dear to us, yet the basis of a strong society, is a strong family.  Perhaps some quiet time in each other’s company, enjoying the simplicity of close family life, will – for some – be the most respectful, but also the most appropriate and rejuvenating way, to spend Monday.

On Monday, for those who wish to watch the Funeral in the company of others, and in a place of worship, there will a live screening, at 6am, at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Church in Grand Turk, and at St Monica’s Anglican Church in Providenciales. RTC will screen the State Funeral at 6am on Monday for those who may wish to join the estimated global audience of 4 billion people. Individual Churches will make, and make known, their own arrangements, should they wish to, to hold a memorial service – but this is firmly their choice.

For those that wish to – a two minute silence echoing the silence in the Abbey at the conclusion of the Funeral – may also be observed at 7am on Monday or given the early hour, at any other time during the day, as you deem appropriate.

There will be a time to rejoice – the Future Coronation of a King – on a date not yet announced – will offer us that opportunity. But perhaps Monday can be used as a day of reflection about those who are with us, those who we love, and those who we remember built around our respectful memory of our late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.  May Her late Majesty Rest in Peace and may she Rise again in Glory. ‘God Save the King’.

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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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