Kingston, September 14, 2024 – Officials of the Ministry of Education and Youth and school administrators are reporting a smooth start to the 2024/25 academic year, on Monday (September 2), at several institutions.

This, in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which threatened to derail reopening at some schools.

Ministry of Education Regional Director for St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland, Dr. Michelle Pinnock, provided updates on various schools in those parishes.

She told JIS News that Bethel Primary School in Hopewell, Hanover, was undergoing clean-up efforts following the completion of construction work.

The Regional Director said grade-five and six students were present on Monday, with plans in place for full resumption on Tuesday (September 3).

Meanwhile, she advised that students of Kendal Primary School, also in Hanover, will be temporarily housed in two community church halls while the administration awaits the completion of a new building being constructed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).

“Kendal Primary is getting a building from JSIF, which is basically a whole school; even before Hurricane Beryl, the arrangements were made,” Dr. Pinnock told JIS News.

Over at Barracks Road Primary School in Montego Bay, St. James, which sustained roof damage, among other challenges, arrangements were made to ensure the students’ safety and continuity of learning.

“The rains that came last week made us realise that we have some extensive damage to the membrane of the roof.  So, we are staggering the children and, on Wednesday, we will be using Faith Temple Church as an external site. The church has an area very near to the school, and we are going to be hosting students there,” Dr Pinnock informed.

The Regional Director expressed satisfaction with the overall start of the academic year for schools under her office’s purview, noting that some institutions may need to adjust timetables to accommodate teacher availability.

She also highlighted ongoing training initiatives to facilitate independent student learning through Google classrooms.

Meanwhile, Principal of Siloah Primary School in St. Elizabeth, O’Neil Larmond, shared that there was a positive start to the academic year for his institution, citing active parental involvement and a full staff complement for Monday’s opening.

“With a student population of over 500, Siloah Primary is off to a great start. We had a member of the Anglican Church doing devotion for us this (Monday) morning and we [had] close to 200 parents in attendance also. So, after devotion we had a brief meeting with our parents. We [had] our full staff complement and we have water and electricity,” the Principal told JIS News.

Ministry of Education Regional Director for St. Thomas, Portland and St. Mary, Yashieka Grant, reported that the majority of public schools in the area successfully reopened, with only two exceptions.

Mrs. Grant, who acknowledged the impact of Hurricane Beryl, welcomed the successful resumption of classes at the institutions which reopened.

“We have 165 public schools in this Region, and all, except two of them, [were] open to students [on Monday]… so we are grateful for that,” she told JIS News.

Principal of Scotts Pass Primary and Infant School in Clarendon, Mark Powell, also reported a smooth start to operations at his institution, highlighting the importance of establishing classroom routines and building relationships with students from the onset of the academic year.

He told JIS News that, during Monday’s start, “teachers [were] laying down the ground rules, getting to know their students and familiarising them with procedures again”.

As schools navigate various challenges and adjustments in the early days of the new academic year, educators and administrators remain committed to providing a supportive and engaging learning environment for students.

CONTACT: ANDREW LAIDLEY

Turks and Caicos, September 14, 2024 – The Integrity Commission advises that the Register of Interests for Members of the Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly, as at 31st December 2023 has been completed.  Members of the House of Assembly are required by the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution, Section 103(2), and the Integrity Commission Ordinance (the Ordinance), as amended, Section 52(1), to file with the Commission, Statements of Registrable Interests.

The Commission would, therefore, like to inform members of the public that, it is has compiled the information contained in these Statements of Registrable Interests and has produced The Register of Interests 2023 for the Members of the House of Assembly, as at 31st December 2023.

The Register of Interests 2023 is now available for public inspection at the following locations:

⦁ House of Assembly in Grand Turk

⦁ Office of the Premier – Grand Turk and Providenciales

⦁ Office of the Integrity Commission – Grand Turk and Providenciales (during the hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm from Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 4:00pm on Fridays.)

⦁ Office of the District Commissioner – Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Salt Cay and 1 South Caicos.

The Register can be viewed at these locations during normal working hours or at a time that is convenient for the respective offices.

For further information or any assistance please contact the Integrity Commission: By telephone at: 946-1941(Grand Turk Office) or 941-7847 (Providenciales Office)

By e-mail at: secretary@integritycommission.tc or info@integritycommission.tc

United Kingdom, September 13, 2024 – A delegation from the Turks and Caicos Islands will visit the UK Parliament for the Good Governance and Public Finance Forum.

This week, delegates from the Turks and Caicos Islands are among 39 Overseas Territories representatives attending the Sixth UK Overseas Territories Forum on Good Governance and Oversight of Public Finance, hosted in the UK Parliament and UK National Audit Office.

The Turks and Caicos Islands’ delegation includes members of the House of Assembly and National Audit Office. Held between 10 – 12 September 2024, the UK Overseas Territories Forum on Good Governance and Oversight of Public Finances is an important event for many parliamentarians, parliamentary officials, and government auditors across Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

As the flagship annual conference, focused on enhancing good governance and oversight of public finance, the Forum stands as an important opportunity for parliamentarians, officials, and auditors alike to meet and share best practices.

Sarah Dickson OBE, Chief Executive of CPA UK, said: “Over the past eight years, the UK Overseas Territories Project has brought together people from across the Overseas Territories, the UK, and the Crown Dependencies to share good practice and exchange ideas. The Forum in London will be a great opportunity to strengthen the existing networks and partnerships across the Overseas Territories and build new ones.”

Hon. Gordon J. Burton, MHA, Speaker of the House of Assembly, said: “The CPA UK has been an invaluable partner to the House of Assembly for many years by providing training opportunities to members and by conducting post-election seminars through the UKOTP. This seminar is a continuation of that collaboration which strengthens our members ability to carry out their duties as members of the oversight committees of the House.”

The Forum is hosted by the UK Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the UK Government Internal Audit Agency, and the UK National Audit Office.

Since 2016, the three organisations have worked with the authorities in the British Overseas Territories to deliver training, spaces to share knowledge learnt and insights gained, as well as opportunities for professionals to visit their counterparts overseas.