News
Ministry of Education Completes Quality Assurance Officers’ Training
PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION,
YOUTH, SPORTS AND CULTURE
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 21 May 2025: The Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) in the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, has recently concluded an intensive two-week training session with prospective quality assurance
officers. The training took place from 5 – 16 May 2025 and a total of fourteen (14) officers participated in the training in-person, online and hybrid. The officers are being prepared to be the first cohort of Quality Assurance Officers to conduct formal school inspections in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The training session was facilitated by Dr Maureen Clarke-Dwyer, Chief School Inspector and Dr Karah Whitter, Senior Inspector/Quality Assurance with the National Education Inspectorate (NEI) in Jamaica. The training session encompassed evaluating leadership practices, conducting classroom and general observation dynamics, interpreting data and participating in a mock inspection of one school. The sessions were designed to build the competencies, skills, knowledge and judgement needed to evaluate schools accurately and fairly. At the end of the training exercise, the officers completed a 70-hour course in the Principles and Practices in School Inspection and were awarded a certificate of completion.
At the start of the training, Mrs. Kadean Cunningham, Quality Assurance Manager, emphasised the vital role of quality assurance officers in supporting and delivering quality assurance during school assessments and inspections. She highlighted that training is essential to ensure the process is well-understood, effective, and credible—ultimately strengthening education quality. This, she noted, builds stakeholder confidence and validates the officers’ work. She concluded by stating that trained officers will be well-versed in educational standards, skilled in evaluating teaching and learning, able to communicate findings professionally, and equipped to provide feedback that drives school improvement.
In her address to the team of quality assurance officers, Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, emphasised
that efforts to improve the education system must remain focused on students and their learning. She underscored that students are the primary beneficiaries of the process, and the ultimate goal is to enhance the quality of education they receive each day. The aim of the QAU is to contribute to the overall development and maintenance of standards in education and foster an environment conducive to quality teaching, effective learning and overall academic excellence within our schools. It remains committed to delivering on the Ministry’s promise of ensuring that the education system provides our students with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to maximize their fullest potential in order to benefit their families, the communities and the development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Bahamas, August 27, 2026 – The Royal Bahamas Police Force wishes to inform members of the public that several individuals are scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 27th August 2026, at 12:00 noon.
The individuals and charges are as follows:
An 18-year-old female is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
Three (3) counts of Murder
Three (3) counts of Attempted Murder
Three (3) counts of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life
Three (3) counts of Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm
Two (2) counts of Possession of Ammunition
Armed Robbery
Abetment to Armed Robbery
Stealing
Receiving
The charges stem from three separate shooting incidents and an armed robbery that occurred on Friday, 21st August 2026, and Saturday, 22nd August 2026.
The first shooting occurred in the area of Soldier Road and Baillou Hill Road, resulting in the death of a 51-year-old male.
The second shooting occurred in the area of Joe Farrington Road, resulting in the death of a 52-year-old male.
The third shooting occurred in the area of Gladstone Road, resulting in the death of a 36-year-old male.
The armed robbery occurred at a business establishment in the area of Carmichael Road and Baillou Hill Road.
A 21-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on one charge of:
- Murder
The charge stems from a shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, in the area of Samson Street, Nassau Village, which resulted in the death of a 28-year-old male.
A 32-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
- Murder
- Attempted Murder
These charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday, 24th December 2025, in the area of Graham Drive, Yellow Elder, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old male.
RBPF, PACD
by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — In a country where government press conferences are virtually non-existent, ministers are often difficult for
journalists to access and regular broadcast television news has disappeared, TCI Innovation, Technology and Energy Minister E. Jay Saunders has challenged Caribbean media to become “impossible to ignore.”
Speaking at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union gathering, Saunders argued that the Caribbean does not have a relevance problem but a “discoverability and positioning problem.”
Discoverability is precisely the issue in Saunders’ home country. Even Government’s own attempts at video news broadcasting have struggled against the realities of consistently producing a daily, weekly or even monthly newscast.
The difficulties confronting TCI media extend well beyond algorithms: limited advertising revenue, underfunding, shortages of trained professionals and insufficient human capacity leave newsrooms struggling for both staff and stamina.
Then there is the reality of operating in one of the region’s smallest societies. Politicians, journalists, advertisers, businesses and the subjects of stories often exist within the same tight economic and social circles. A controversial report that might create a ripple elsewhere can produce a tsunami in TCI, intensifying concerns among journalists about commercial and professional victimisation.
Saunders believes AI can help.
He urged Caribbean media to use the technology to transform one original story into television, radio, web, podcast, social and translated content without multiplying newsroom workload.
He also wants regional journalism structured so AI systems can find, understand and trust Caribbean sources, moving media beyond traditional SEO into Answer Engine Optimisation.
His ultimate message was emphatic: “Use AI not to make Caribbean media more artificial — but to make Caribbean voices more visible.”
For Turks and Caicos media, however, becoming visible may require more than technology. It requires an environment in which journalism can survive.
That last sentence is where I think we land the plane. It acknowledges that EJ actually has some us
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
