News
Helping Children Grow Strong Inside and Out: Sandals Foundation and Sesame Workshop Host Emotional Well-Being Workshop in Turks & Caicos
Turks and Caicos Islands, May 2025 – In recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness month, the Sandals Foundation and Sesame Workshop (the nonprofit behind Sesame Street) partnered on Tuesday, May 6, to host an Emotional Well-Being Workshop for educators and parents in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Held at Beaches Turks & Caicos, the event featured two interactive sessions led by Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop, designed to strengthen caregivers’ ability to support the social and emotional development of young children.
The initiative, which is part of the long-standing partnership between Sesame Workshop and the philanthropic arm of Beaches Resorts,
encourages laughter and learning both in the classroom and at home. Nearly 70 early childhood educators and Ministry of Education representatives gathered in person for the morning session, while parents tuned in virtually in the afternoon for accessible, practical tools and guidance.
“I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to be here. The workshop was both interactive and informative. I gained valuable insight into the fact that children experience and express their emotions in different ways. I’m especially thankful for the practical strategies shared with us, particularly those focused on supporting children’s emotional well-being and the various breathing techniques.” said Monique Cox, Vice Principal of the Eliza Simons Primary School. “These are tools I’ll take with me to reflect on and apply in my classroom. I plan to incorporate them into our morning routine to help my students start the day feeling calm and ready to express themselves.”
Under the theme “R is for Resilience: Sesame Street’s Commitment to Supporting Emotional Well-Being,” Dr. Truglio introduced proven strategies and everyday moments that parents and educators can use to help young children manage big feelings, navigate stress, and build positive connections.
“Emotional well-being isn’t just about responding to challenges, it’s about celebrating everyday joys and helping children understand themselves, form healthy relationships, and feel secure in who they are,” said Dr. Truglio. “When we equip caring adults with the right tools, we give children the confidence and coping skills they need to thrive for life.”
In both sessions, participants received a resource handbook developed by Sesame Workshop that includes real-life examples, mindfulness
activities, and social-emotional learning techniques adapted for early childhood settings. The guide offers concrete ways to support emotional awareness, encourage empathy, and foster belonging, whether in the classroom or around the dinner table. Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke, shared, “Our partnership with Sesame Workshop is rooted in a shared belief that every child deserves the chance to feel safe, valued, and supported. By investing in the adults who shape their daily environments, teachers, principals, and parents, we’re building communities that prioritize mental wellness and kindness from the very start.”
The interactive event also included heartfelt opening remarks, thoughtful reflections in line with Ministry of Education customs, and opportunities for dialogue among participants.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Header: On May 6, 2025, educators and Ministry of Education representatives in the Turks & Caicos Islands gathered at Beaches Turks & Caicos for an Emotional Well-Being Workshop hosted by Sesame Workshop and the Sandals Foundation in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. Nearly 70 participants joined the interactive session led by Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop, to explore strategies for nurturing children’s emotional resilience.
1st insert: Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education (middle right); Mark Garland, Director of Education (center); Dr. Keran Toussaint, Education Officer; Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop (middle left) and Michelle Kreher, Senior Director of Global Themed Entertainment at Sesame Workshop (third left), along with beloved Sesame Street characters.
2nd insert: Teachers engage in the interactive session as they practice the calming Butterfly Breath technique.
3rd insert: Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, Senior Vice President of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop speaking to educators
4th insert: Teachers capture joyful moments with beloved Sesame Street characters during the workshop.
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
NASSAU, Bahamas — More Bahamians are accessing HIV and sexually transmitted infection-related healthcare through National Health Insurance, a trend the NHI Authority says should be viewed positively.
NHIA stressed in an August 6 statement that its 2025 figures measure healthcare utilisation, not newly diagnosed infections. They include beneficiaries screened, treated, monitored or receiving follow-up care, including people diagnosed previously.
“Increased utilisation of these services should be viewed as a positive development,” NHIA said.
The Authority pointed to “greater enrolment and use of NHI, improved access to screening and testing, continued treatment and monitoring of existing conditions, and increased willingness to seek medical care.”
The development comes amid a mixed three-year HIV picture. New diagnoses rose from 130 in 2023 to 156 in 2024, before declining to 142 in 2025.
NHIA said increased utilisation demonstrates that more beneficiaries are accessing needed healthcare and actively managing their health, reinforcing the importance of screening, early diagnosis and continued treatment.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Americas has recorded 47,459 confirmed measles cases and 44 deaths in 2026, the region’s highest case count in 22 years, prompting the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to urge stronger vaccination, surveillance and rapid outbreak response.
As of July 18, cases were already more than triple the 15,011 recorded during all of 2025. Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Peru
account for 95% of confirmed cases. Guatemala leads with 30,371 cases and 26 deaths, followed by Mexico with 12,255 cases and 17 deaths.
PAHO classifies the regional public health risk as very high, citing active outbreaks, immunity gaps, international travel and populations with inadequate vaccination coverage.
The organization says prevention starts with vaccination. Countries are being urged to achieve and maintain at least 95% coverage with two doses of measles-containing vaccine, particularly protecting children and under-vaccinated communities.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash.
PAHO is urging health authorities to detect suspected cases early and respond rapidly to stop transmission. Unvaccinated and under-vaccinated people, young children and communities with limited healthcare access face increased risk of severe illness and death.
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