PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS GOVERNMENT LONDON OFFICE
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands February 2025 – Demari Fulford, a student from the Turks and Caicos Islands raised the issue of Education and Learning: school/college and access to university and apprenticeships in the 2025 session of the UK Youth Parliament, featuring the British Overseas Territories.
Mr. Fulford, aged 18, currently studying music and philosophy at the University of Nottingham, told the House of Commons how his government’s annual scholarship program would benefit the Turks and Caicos Islands by broadening its view of educational opportunities though the inclusion of studies in the creative and performing arts during a special sitting on Friday 28 February 2025.
Mr. Fulford was among 10 representatives of the British Overseas Territories invited to participate in the annual gathering by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
The others included: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Tristan da Cunha, Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) Akrotiri and Dhekelia (on Cyprus).
Sir Lindsay said: ‘From the Pitcairn Islands in the Southern Pacific Ocean to the British Indian Ocean Territory almost 10,000 miles away, the British Overseas Territories (OTs) all have one thing in common – they are British.
‘That is why it is so important we give young people from the OTs a platform on which to speak about the issues that affect them – and for us to hear about them.
‘Being at the sharp end of climate change, a lack of opportunity and limited learning resources were among topics the young representatives raised during the day-long sitting.’
Demari Fulford said: ‘The experience of being surrounded by like-minded individuals was very empowering, not only because I am a young citizen who sat where Prime Ministers and Members have sat in the past, but also because I am a youth from the Turks and Caicos Islands. I represented the amazing people of the TCI, who I share a home with and I aimed to show the numerous opportunities available to them when they advocate for what they believe in.’
More than 260 students representing every corner of the United Kingdom, took their places on the House of Commons green benches to contribute to the UK Youth Parliament session.
The annual gathering made history when it held its debut sitting in the House of Commons in 2009. It was the first time that the Chamber had been used by anyone other than elected Members of Parliament.
The 2025 sitting will be the 15th since United Kingdom Youth Parliament began.
