Health
PUBLIC SERVICE TIMES SPOTLIGHT: Ms. Florinda Talbot Receives Master of Arts in Nursing
Turks and Caicos, April 4, 2025 – Ms. Florinda Talbot, originally from the green island of North Caicos, began her career in 1991 as a temporary teacher at Adelaide Oemler Primary School. Her dedication to education earned her a TCIG scholarship to pursue a Teaching Diploma at Mico Teachers’ College. After her studies, she taught at Eliza Simons for one year and at Enid Capron Primary School for ten years.
Following her teaching career, Ms. Talbot ventured into banking and then went on to become one of the first employees of the National
Health Insurance Plan, where her passion for healthcare deepened. In 2010, she crafted a personal development plan that guided her to achieve a Bachelor’s Degree with Honors in Health and Social Care and an MBA in Hospital Management from the University of Bedfordshire. Upon returning home, she took on the role of Deputy Contract Performance Manager at the Ministry of Health and Human Services, advancing to Contract Performance Manager in April 2018. In this position, she oversees the Project Agreement with InterHealth Canada for hospital operations. Driven to further her education, Ms. Talbot left the Turks and Caicos Islands to pursue a second Master’s degree in Nursing, supported by financial assistance from the Professional Development Fund through the Deputy Governor’s Office. She has since returned to her role as Contract Performance Manager and spoke with The Public Service Times about her journey and the motivations behind it.
What inspired you to pursue a Master of Arts in Nursing, particularly focusing on adult care?
I recalled since I was a child I wanted to become a Nurse as it gives me fulfilment when caring for others. I believe that adults, particularly the elderly, deserve optimal care as many have paved the way for us to enjoy and benefit from a better way of life. As a Nurse, I am confident that I can make a positive difference in the lives of individuals who need care. Furthermore, this area also provides a high degree of career flexibility and various employment prospects. As an adult nurse, I further developed the skills and confidence to bring comfort, improve the patient’s quality of life, whatever their situation, promote health and save lives.
What aspects of the Master of Arts in Nursing program were most challenging for you, and how did you tackle those challenges as a full-time student?
The most challenging aspect of the Master of Arts in Nursing Program was obtaining the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which required 4600 hours, including theory and practical. Meeting project deadlines was also a challenge. However, I learnt from my previous studies the importance of prioritizing and planning tasks, which assisted me greatly with maintaining a healthy balance.
How did your academic journey enhance your understanding and effectiveness in your role within the Ministry of Health?
My academic journey in the Masters in Adult Nursing Program has strengthened my clinical competence and enabled me to make valuable clinical contributions to the Ministry of Health as a Registered Nurse. In particular, I will be monitoring and assessing the quality of clinical and non-clinical services being provided to patients.
What key takeaways or insights from your program that you plan to apply in your current position?
Some key takeaways or insights from my program that I plan to apply in my current position are encouraging and highlighting the importance of engaging patients in their care, moving away from the medical model of care, and making it more patient-centred. Additionally, I will continue to support our Primary Health Care sector as it continues to provide treatment for common illnesses, closer management of long-term illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease and the prevention of future ill health through advice, immunization and screening programmes. This will, in turn, minimise the demand on the secondary level of care.
Can you share a memorable moment or project during your studies that significantly shaped your professional perspective?
A memorable moment during my studies was during my hospital placement in Theatres, where I was given the opportunity to lead the surgical team for the day. This role included leading the team with the safer surgery checklist. This includes briefing, sign-in, timeout, sign-out, debriefing and managing the surgical staff breaks during the procedures. This opportunity strengthened my leadership and time management skills, significantly contributing to my professional development. What motivated you to succeed in your studies, and how did that impact your overall program experience?
My strong desire to help others, combined with a passion for healthcare and the ability to make a positive impact on patient’s lives when they are in their most vulnerable state. The patient’s smile, the daily acts of kindness and gratitude verbally expressed by my nursing colleagues, and the appreciation shown to me as part of the team have been some of the most motivating aspects of the program.
How do you envision using your Master’s degree to impact healthcare delivery and contract performance in your role at the Ministry of Health?
I anticipate using the additional knowledge and skills acquired to work with the Ministry of Health inter-professional teams to review and develop evidence-based policies and procedures, further enhancing patient care. Additionally, I intend to utilise the technical aspect of my experience and knowledge acquired relating to clinical governance and auditing, applying it to aspects of monitoring and managing the delivery of the healthcare contract.
Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
Turks and Caicos, September 6, 2025 – COVID-19 fears in the Turks and Caicos Islands that once had residents on edge are now giving way to a sense of relief. The Ministry of Health and Human Services reports a dramatic reversal: from dozens of new cases in July to zero cases and zero hospitalizations today.
Between August 17 and 23, 2025, officials confirmed no new cases, no hospitalizations, and no new deaths. Just two recoveries were recorded, bringing the national recovery tally to 6,866. The total confirmed cases since 2020 stand at 6,922, with deaths unchanged at 41. Health officials say August has been relatively quiet overall, with 19 new cases and recoveries recorded for the month — a fraction of what the islands faced just weeks earlier.
The contrast could not be sharper. The most concerning bulletin came in mid-July, when the Ministry reported 54 new cases in a single
week. Ten were fresh positives, while the other 44 came from a backlog of April samples. At that time, two new hospitalizations were recorded, and the islands mourned one additional COVID-related death, bringing the total to 41. It was a sobering reminder that the virus was still circulating, pushing recoveries to 6,845 and raising the cumulative case count to 6,910. The July spike stirred fear among residents and renewed calls for vigilance, as community spread and delayed lab results painted a worrying picture.
Fast forward to late August, and the numbers tell a very different story. Not only are new cases negligible, but the hospitals are reporting no COVID-19 patients at all. Officials say testing continues across a wide range of categories, and the Ministry urges the public to stay cautious: wash hands, wear masks in crowded spaces, protect the vulnerable, and get vaccinated. But the tone now is one of optimism.
Since the pandemic began in 2020, Turks and Caicos has recorded nearly 7,000 cases in total, with 6,866 recoveries and 41 deaths. The islands’ small population means every case has felt significant, and surges like July’s were especially unsettling. But today’s figures suggest the country has reached a new stage: COVID-19 is no longer the disruptive force it was. The Ministry credits continued public vigilance and the accessibility of free testing and vaccines at government clinics. While the numbers are cause for celebration, health leaders are careful not to declare the fight over. The Ministry’s latest bulletin reminds residents to maintain hygienic practices, follow self-isolation guidelines if infected, and ensure vaccinations are up to date.
The pandemic may not be entirely behind the Turks and Caicos, but compared to the frightening figures of July, the near-zero landscape of August offers a powerful sign of hope.
The Ministry released the bulletin on September 2, confirming that for the week of August 17–23, no new cases, hospitalizations, or deaths were recorded — a sharp contrast to the surge just weeks earlier.
Health
Turks and Caicos Islands Health Delegation Completes Strategic Visits to Florida and Cayman Islands to Advance Health Sector Reform and Strengthen Treatment Abroad Programme
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 22 August 2025 — A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MOHHS) has successfully concluded strategic working visits to Florida and the Cayman Islands from August 5–13, 2025. The mission aimed to strengthen the Treatment Abroad Programme, explore innovative health system models, and advance the Turks and Caicos Islands’ health sector reform agenda through strategic regional partnerships.
Delegation Members:
- Hon. Kyle Knowles – Minister of Health and Human Services
MoHHS Team with Health City Executive Management Team
- Mrs. Desiree Lewis – Permanent Secretary, Health and Human Services
- Mr. Lynrod Brooks – Director, Health Policy and Planning
- Ms. Florinda Talbot – Contract Performance Manager
- Mrs. Romaine Missick-Smith – CEO, Health Regulations Authority
- Ms. Jasmine Malcolm – Executive Administrator, MOHHS
Minister of Health and Human Services, Hon. Kyle Knowles, highlighted the significance of these engagements:
“These visits were not ceremonial; they were strategic, focused, and impactful. In Florida, we reinforced partnerships with leading healthcare providers to ensure TCI patients referred overseas receive the highest standards of clinical care and patient support. In the Cayman Islands, our mission was two-fold: to study the operations of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority as a model to guide the establishment of our own Health Services Authority, and to strengthen ties with Cayman-based treatment partners, where many of our patients are referred under the Treatment Abroad Programme. Both visits underscored that small island states share many health challenges, and that collaboration, innovation, and adapting best practices to our local context are essential to achieving better health outcomes for our people.”
Florida – Strengthening the Treatment Abroad Programme
MoHHS Team with Cayman Minsterial officials
During the period August 5–9, the delegation visited Broward Medical Center, University of Miami Health System, Cleveland Clinic, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, and the International Reinsurance Managers Network. They also toured REVA Air Ambulance Services to review medical evacuation operations and patient transfer management. Discussions centered on patient care pathways, specialized services in ophthalmology, cardiology, oncology, and pediatrics, family-centered care models, advanced telemedicine for pre- and post-treatment consultations, and reinsurance strategies for high-cost overseas cases. Key outcomes include agreements to expand telehealth consultations, develop a standardized referral package to reduce delays, explore reinsurance arrangements to safeguard public health budgets, and establish specialized pediatric transfer protocols.
Cayman Islands – Health Sector Reform and Treatment Abroad Partnerships
From August 10–13, the delegation engaged with senior executives at Health City Cayman Islands, including Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil (Clinical Director), Shomari Scott (Chief Business Development Officer), Rebecca Brooks (Head of Marketing and Sales), and Ingrid Harris (Sales and Marketing). The team toured two hospital facilities and held in-depth discussions with Lizzette Yearwood, Chief Executive Officer along with leadership staff of the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority
The focus was two-fold:
- Health Sector Reform – Examining governance, financial management, and operational structures of the Cayman Islands HSA model
MoHHS Team with CEO and senior official Cayman HSA
to inform TCI’s development of its own Health Services Authority.
- Treatment Abroad Strengthening – Reviewing current referral arrangements with Cayman healthcare partners to enhance patient care coordination and improve treatment pathways for TCI patients referred to Cayman.
The delegation also met with Honourable Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister for Health, Environment, Sustainability, and Honourable G. Wayne Panton, Parliamentary Secretary for Health. The team concluded with a meeting with Acting Premier Hon. Gary B. Rutty and Cabinet members, reaffirming the shared commitment to improving healthcare access and outcomes through regional collaboration.
Next Steps
The Ministry will incorporate lessons learned from these visits into ongoing health reform planning, ensuring that the proposed Health Services Authority is tailored to TCI’s needs while reflecting regional best practices. Efforts will continue to ensure that the Treatment Abroad Programme delivers efficient, sustainable, and patient-centered care.
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