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Mental Health, Anti-Stigma Campaign features Locals Telling their Stories

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By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, March 9, 2023 – A new campaign is exposing deeply personal stories on the issue of mental health and strengthens efforts to prove there is no shame in struggling with mental stability.  Launched on February 27th, the “Dismantling Stigma” campaign from the Mental Health and Substance Dependence is geared at removing the shame surrounding mental health and getting residents to open up and seek care when they need it.

The campaign uses stories from well-known local islanders including; attorney, writer and filmmaker,  Dominic Rolle; singer and TCHTA Entertainer of the year 2017 Crystal ‘Tess’ Charles and professional development trainer Latoya Jones who opened up about their own mental health challenges ranging from anxiety to depression and more.  All are featured on billboards across the Providenciales International Airport.

Sponsored by the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association the push comes fresh off of the country opening its first mental health facility in Grand Turk.

The ministry says mental health stigma is one of the biggest barriers to mental health care and in shifting people’s perspectives about this they hope to have more people seeking help when they are struggling.

The campaign uses stories from well-known local islanders including; attorney, writer and filmmaker,  Dom Rolle; singer and TCHTA Entertainer of the Year, Crystal ‘Tess’ Charles and professional development trainer, Latoya Jones who opened up about their own mental health challenges ranging from anxiety to depression and more.

All are featured on billboards, unveiled at the Providenciales International Airport.  The massive displays share these stories, localizes the issue and bolsters the attempt to get islanders more comfortable with embracing that mental health challenges is nothing about which one must be ashamed or carry in isolation.

Increasingly, residents have expressed concern about the responses to individuals suffering mental health illness.  In 2022, Garrick Tucker died despite a desperate online appeal by a Mother who wanted help with her troubled son.  Hours later, he crashed in an allegedly stolen vehicle; that help coming too late in a case that even the Health Minister lamented was an avoidable tragedy.

Residents can see the posters sharing these local stories at the Airport, the Health Ministry says the campaign is expected to run throughout the year and ‘there are high expectations that its goal of dismantling mental health stigma will surely be achieved.’

Education

Champions for Christ International School of Excellence

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Tiffany D. Grant-Saunders, MSW, BA Acting Principal/Guidance Counselor

Turks and Caicos, September 5, 2025 – It is our esteemed pleasure to introduce you to Mrs. Tiffany D. Grant-Saunders, MSW, BA, as the new Acting Principal/Guidance Counselor for Champions For Christ International School of Excellence, effective September 1, 2025.

Mrs. Grant-Saunders is the youngest daughter of Millicent R. Grant and Kenneth Grant.  Raised in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, she is a 2016 graduate of Champions For Christ International School of Excellence.  She holds a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Clinical Counseling from Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, FL, having graduated Magna Cum Laude.

She brings her experience as a Mental Health Technician and Education Liaison in Dade City, FL. In addition, she completed her internship as a Therapist Intern with North Tampa Behavioral Health and Zephyrhills Behavioral Health.

We are excited to have Mrs. Grant-Saunders return to the Turks and Caicos Islands and invest her time and talents in the continued building of our student body here at Champions For Christ International School of Excellence.

Please join us in welcoming her home!

 

Claudette M. Basden

Founder & Executive Director 

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Bahamas News

Holmes Rock Junior High School on Track to Open in September

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Bahamas Information Services

 

GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas — On Saturday, August 23, 2025, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama and Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, Kingsley Smith along with Deputy Director of Education for the Grand Bahama, Bimini, and The Cays District, Michelle Bowleg toured Holmes Rock Junior High School to assess ongoing progress and ensure the project remains on track to welcome students for the new academic term in September.

Following the tour, Smith expressed optimism regarding the ongoing progress, stating, “Having toured the site and seeing the work that is being done on the weekend, shows the commitment and dedication to getting it completed.”

He also noted that after discussions with the contractors, he was assured that with sufficient manpower and around-the-clock work, the project remains on track for completion by September 1, 2025.

“One of our underlying goals is really access, so we are happy that the school will be up and ready for our students,” said Bowleg.

She highlighted that several zoom meetings were held with parents to keep them informed about key updates including booklists, uniforms, and staffing. According to Bowleg, feedback from parents has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It is a beautiful facility, one that parents will be very proud of, and the entire West Grand Bahama community,” she added.

(BIS Photos/Danielle Rollon)

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Education

Belize Students Explore Cruise Careers Aboard Carnival Paradise

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Belize City, Belize (Aug 19, 2025) – Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company, recently welcomed 40 students from five educational institutions in Belize aboard the Carnival Paradise cruise ship. The visit was part of an initiative organized in collaboration with the Belize Tourism Board, aimed at inspiring future careers in the maritime industry.

The students represented Gwen Lizarraga High School, Sadie Vernon Technical High School, Nazarene High School, Anglican Cathedral College, and the Hope Center after-school program. The visit provided a firsthand look at cruise industry operations from Carnival’s perspective, highlighted onboard career opportunities, and supported ongoing youth empowerment efforts in Belize City.

During the guided tour of the ship’s public guest areas, the students were able to observe daily cruise operations up close, describing the experience as inspiring and educational, with many noting they learned about opportunities available in the cruise industry.

Captain Ivan Vatovic, Chief Engineer Domenico Bibita; Hotel Director Vivek Menon; Food & Beverage Director Stephen Kim Reynolds; Human Resources Director Daniel Marques De Oliveira; and Environmental Officer Daniela Ramos Licon spoke with the students about their respective roles aboard the ship. Learning & Development Manager John Philip Ortega provided an overview of Carnival Cruise Line’s recruitment process and the various shipboard career opportunities available.

Kwame Scott, Cruise Relations Specialist at the Belize Tourism Board, highlighted the positive impact of the initiative, “Partnering with Carnival Corporation has supported us to expose Belizean youth to viable career paths within the tourism sector. When students can see firsthand how the cruise industry operates, it opens their minds to possibilities they may never have considered.”

Julian Mortis, Director of The Hope Center, praised the program’s powerful educational value in an interview with 7 News Belize. She explained that the tour provided students with more than just a glimpse into a cruise ship. By learning about the roles and requirements, the children realized that a career on a ship, and the opportunity to travel the world, was a real and achievable possibility for them.

Photo Caption: Some of the participating Belizean students and teachers pose for a group photo aboard Carnival Paradise during an educational ship visit.

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