News
BTC starts off Autism Awareness Month in fine style
#PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands, April 23, 2023 – Autism is a complex brain disorder that often avoids a person’s ability to communicate, respond to surroundings, and form relationship with others. The month of April is being celebrated by Beaches Turks and Caicos (BTC) and the world as Autism Awareness month. The all-inclusive family resort, is the Caribbean’s first Autism-Friendly Kids Camp and is currently partnered with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), a global leader in online
training and certification programmes.
BTC since 2021 is now an advanced certified autism centre which has ranked the resort at a level of understanding various behaviour patterns of children or adults on the spectrum. For the month of April, the Kids Camp will seek to bring more awareness to celebrate with families who have children or adults who are on the spectrum. These families will be able to enjoy their vacation at any of the three Beaches resorts in the Caribbean with the assurance of knowing that they will have a secure environment for all to enjoy.
Children’s Activities Manager for the Beaches Resorts in the Caribbean, Fedeline Julien shared, “in our Kids Camp all activities are inclusive. Currently, we interact with the parents prior to them arriving at our resorts to have the necessary information needed to provide a meaningful experience for the family. If necessary, we may assign a Beaches Buddies, accredited staff members who can join the family for an hour, a day, or for their entire stay, at an additional cost, to help in providing additional care for the family with the child or adult on the spectrum.”
“For this year, we had the launch recently, which was celebrated as World Autism Awareness Day. Each Sunday throughout April, we will be having sensitization sessions at our family shows for the parents and team members at the resort. There will be craft sessions in the Kids Camp with sensory material, daily finger painting in the craft studio, meet and greet with Julia, our Sesame Character who is also on the spectrum, and paint parties with Julia and friends,” Julien added.
General Manager James McAnally, noted, “here at BTC, our child care staff continuously receive competency
training in order to provide for our guests with special needs. BTC recently received Advanced Certified Autism Centre accreditation, which has stipulated that at least one team member from each department must be autism certified. Our Kids Camps ensure that team members have the required knowledge, skills, temperament and expertise to cater to all children and offer age-specific programmes for infants, toddlers, pre-teens and teens.”
Beaches Buddy and 15-year veteran in the Kids Camp, Ismay Brown shared, “being able to care for these children and adults who are on the spectrum has been an absolute pleasure. When families decide to come to BTC to enjoy their vacations, each department is engaged in helping them to have an experience of a lifetime. These guests on the spectrum simply do things in their own special way. We are truly an all-inclusive resort and this allows us to be trained to deal with different behaviours and needs at all times.”
Beaches is the first company in the world to complete the rigorous IBCCES training and Autism certification. The resort offers guests with cognitive disabilities the opportunity to more comfortably navigate the on-resort experience through specialised services, engaging activities and customized dining options.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 25 February 2026: Staff of the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) participated in a one‑day Professional Staff Development Workshop on Thursday, 19th February 2026. The session was facilitated by former DDME Director (2011–2021) and current Permanent Secretary of the Governor’s Office, Dr. Virginia Clerveaux.
The in-house workshop was organised by the DDME Training Unit, to focus on the National Disaster Management Framework, strengthening staff understanding of their roles and responsibilities within disaster management. The session also aimed to enhance the effectiveness of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and reinforce inter‑agency coordination.
Drawing on her extensive experience in disaster management in the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as several deployments to CDEMA member states including Haiti, The Bahamas, and Jamaica, Dr. Clerveaux provided practical insights that reinforced key concepts and clarified operational expectations. Staff members actively participated in discussions and shared recommendations to improve sub‑committee performance and overall departmental efficiency.
To support learning retention, the workshop incorporated pre‑ and post‑assessments, enabling participants to evaluate their understanding and track improvements.
Acting Director of DDME, Mr. Kevaun Lucas stated: “Investing in the continued development of our team is essential to strengthening national resilience. This and future planned workshops will help to reinforce our commitment to building a highly skilled, well‑coordinated workforce capable of leading and supporting disaster management efforts across the Turks and Caicos Islands. I am proud of the team’s engagement and encouraged by the meaningful contributions they made throughout the session.”
This Professional Staff Development Workshop forms part of DDME’s ongoing commitment to enhancing internal capacity, strengthening operational coordination and improving overall departmental synergy as the agency continues to advance national preparedness and response capabilities.
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Caribbean News
Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion
Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.
The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.
“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital
policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.
“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”
Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.
Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.
Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”
Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.
Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.
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TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 20 February 2026 — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in collaboration with key
government agencies, coordinated a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Block and Parcel 60609/33 in the Five Cays area.
The exercise was led by the Crown Land Unit, pursuant to its statutory mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land. The ISU coordinated the operation, with support provided by the Planning Department and the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, while the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force ensured security throughout the activity.
The enforcement action followed a series of inspections conducted by the Crown Land Unit throughout Five Cays, which identified several illegally constructed buildings made of concrete and timber on sections of the subject parcel. In keeping with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance, occupied structures were served Letters of Illegal Occupation, delivered by hand to occupants and
posted on structures where individuals were absent. Incomplete and unoccupied structures were served Notices of Unauthorized Occupation pursuant to section 22 of the Ordinance. A total of ten (10) Letters of Illegal Occupation and three (3) Notices of Unauthorized Occupation were issued during the exercise.
The Informal Settlements Unit reiterates that these coordinated enforcement exercises form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the law, protect Crown land, and manage informal settlements in a structured and lawful manner. Members of the public are reminded that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown land is unlawful and subject to enforcement action.
