Caribbean News
TCI Education Minister Rachel Taylor visits Cayman Islands
#CaymanIslands, February 9, 2023 – The Honourable Rachel M. Taylor received an invitation from the Cayman Islands Youth Development Consortium to deliver the keynote address at their Youth Development Conference held on Saturday, January 28, 2023. The invitation was received with great honour and the Minister was accompanied by the Director of Education, Mr. Edgar Howell.
The Cayman Islands Youth Development Consortium is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, founded specifically to implement Asset-Building Programmes for Cayman’s Youth. The Consortium aims to ensure that young people have an awareness of their assets and a desire to succeed in all areas of life. The consortium believes that the proactive youth development approach of assisting all young people develop their strengths and talents, is the most effective way to prevent their involvement in risky behavior.
The Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Social Services was amongst other dignitaries including the Governor of Cayman, His Excellency Mr. Martyn Roper OBE, the Premier of the Cayman Islands, the Honourable Wayne Panton, Minister of Sustainability and Climate Resilience and the Acting Minister of Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage and the Honourable Isaac Rankin.
The Speech delivered by Honourable Rachel Taylor to the youth of the Cayman Islands was nothing short of inspiring. In order to stimulate and engage the minds of everyone in attendance at the conference, she delivered an emotionally charged address, intended to inspire the youth through life experience, stories, thoughts and ideas. She challenged them to see clearly the opportunities around them and move forward into the future with confidence and action.
The Minister’s speech included these words, “I want to share a small portion of my personal story as an entry point to addressing the theme for this conference. I grew up in a small community on an island with a population of not more than approximately one thousand people. At the time, I did not have access to an abundance of financial and other material resources, but I had a desire to be successful and this is where I focused my energies.
Without any knowledge of the phrase “asset-based strategies”, there were people in my community who recognized the potential within me. As I think about it now, I must admit, the elders in my community did not focus their attention on what I did not have. Instead, they concentrated their resources and time, on providing me with
opportunities to bring out of me, the possibilities they saw in me.” She emphasized that it takes a village to raise a child.
The Conference covered the various topics:
- Defining Youth Success * Mapping Community Assets that support Youth Development
- Measuring Youth Success * Planning the Project for youth success
All young people have the potential to succeed and if given the opportunity, they can succeed at whatever they put their mind to do.
The Minister of Education, Honourable Rachel M. Taylor gives special thanks to the Premier, Hon. Panton for the appreciation dinner which provided an opportunity to discuss similar challenges and highlighted some of the success stories from both countries.
The Minister also took the opportunity to visit a number of schools and sporting facilities. It is the continuation of partnerships of which the Minister intends to strengthen, as we learn from best practices between both countries and work together to solve some of the similar issues.
Special thanks to Rev. Ambassador Sylvia Wilks Cayman Islands Youth Development Consortium and other members of the Ministry of Education and Sports for the warm reception throughout the visit.
Caribbean News
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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (October 6th, 2025) – CaribCon, the Caribbean conference celebrating culture, innovation, and creativity, will welcome some of the region’s most influential voices to its inaugural edition in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The event, set to be a dynamic gathering of thought leaders and cultural icons, will feature impactful panel discussions, inspiring and intimate fireside chats and a flow of knowledge from some of the Caribbean’s brightest and best in the creative sector.
Elizabeth “Lady” Montano
Jamaica’s own Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson, celebrated communications specialist, media personality, and global keynote speaker, will headline CaribCon as the official keynote speaker. Known for her ability to connect authentically and inspire audiences worldwide, Dr. Reid will share her insights on Caribbean identity, storytelling, and the power of representation in shaping global narratives. Another highlight of CaribCon will be the presence of Elizabeth “Lady” Montano, mother and former manager of soca superstar Machel Montano. Lady will launch her award-winning book, King of Soca, in which she is positioned as the ultimate insider, chronicling the evolution of one of the Caribbean’s most iconic entertainers. She will also share her invaluable experiences on nurturing talent, building a brand, and sustaining longevity in the competitive music industry in an intimate fireside chat. Adding further star power to the event is Simon Baptiste, CEO of Question Mark Entertainment, co-founder of ODOS, a global collective network spanning over 1000 professionals in 35 countries, film director, talent manager and creative strategist. Baptiste will bring his expertise to conversations on shaping the region’s creative sector and talent.
Simon Baptiste
“CaribCon is where the Caribbean’s voices, ideas, and creativity converge,” says Omega Simmons, founder of CaribCon and CEO of SOS Media. “Having leaders like Terri Karelle, Lady Montano, and Simon Baptiste share their stories and expertise truly embodies the spirit of this event. Their presence reinforces the power of Caribbean culture to inspire and influence on the world stage.” CaribCon will take place at the Shore Club in Providenciales, the Turks and Caicos Islands, from October 23rd to 26th. Attendees can look forward to networking opportunities, panel discussions, and meaningful dialogue to foster an ecosystem that develops the region’s creative sector and propels it onto the global stage.
Sponsors are:
Signature Experience Partners: Ministry of Tourism, Experience Turks and Caicos, and The Shore Club.
Other sponsors: PPID, Invest TCI, InterCaribbean Airways, Subtronic Sounds, Spotlight Communications.
Hotel partners: Ocean Club Resorts, Waterloo Hotel Management, The Somerset on Grace Bay and Ports of Call Resort.
For more information, tickets, and updates, visit www.caribcon.co or follow @caribconhq on all social media platforms.
For more information please email: contact@caribcon.co
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