PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR AND HEAD OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 1st July 2025 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands proudly announces the appointment of Ms. Jatavia Howell as the Director of Youth Affairs within the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture.
Ms. Howell completed her A-Levels at the British West Indies Collegiate, where she excelled as the Top Biology Student. She furthered her studies at Newcastle University in the UK, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology and a Master’s degree in Ecological Consultancy.
Her professional career began with the Turks and Caicos National Trust and continued with volunteering for the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) between 2015 and 2018, during which she developed key skills in environmental monitoring, conservation, and community education.
In 2019, Ms. Howell became an Environment Officer at the DECR in Grand Turk. She refined her skills in scuba diving, environmental monitoring, policy development, and leadership. She organised environmental clean-up campaigns, delivered educational talks to local youth, and created innovative programs to engage young people in environmental conservation.
Ms. Howell’s exemplary performance led to her promotion in 2022 to the role of Assistant Director of Protected Areas and Revenue. Her responsibilities extended to supervising Beach and Coastal Vending activities, managing eight cultural markets, overseeing numerous community parks, and regulating coastal development, mineral exploration and exploitation.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ms. Howell’s unwavering passion for youth development has been a consistent driving force throughout her career. She has actively created opportunities for young people to engage with the environment, including supporting the Junior Park Warden Program, free swimming initiatives, and other youth-centred programs. Her dedication to youth empowerment extended to her involvement with the Rotaract Club of Providenciales, which she joined in 2022. As Treasurer (2023-2024) and Community Service Director (2024-2025), she led numerous community service projects, including environmental clean-ups, climate change education initiatives, recycling programs in schools, and youth empowerment events such as the Girl Empowerment Weekend.
In 2022, Ms. Howell further demonstrated her commitment to youth leadership by joining the Turks and Caicos Islands Youth Parliament.
Reflecting on her new role, Ms. Howell said, “As a dedicated professional and an active member of the Turks and Caicos Islands community, I deeply understand the aspirations, challenges, and opportunities that young people face. Through God’s help, I am committed to implementing initiatives that provide young people with the resources, opportunities, and mentorship they need to excel. Ecclesiastes 11:9: ‘You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment’. I am thankful for the opportunity to grow and use the skills acquired in my previous roles to do extraordinary things in this new role. I am thankful for my family, the best support system, my mentors, and the entire team at the DECR, whose work, late hours, and dedication to the Turks and Caicos Islands often go unnoticed or are often criticised. Thank you for trusting my leadership and know that while the work doesn’t get easier, you get sharper, tougher, and more prepared.”
In congratulatory remarks, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service H.E. Anya Williams said, “It is with great pleasure that I extend my warmest congratulations to Ms. Jatavia Howell on her appointment as the new Director of Youth Affairs within the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture. In her previous role with the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, Ms. Howell consistently demonstrated a high level of technical expertise and professionalism.
In discussing her interest in the Director of Youth Affairs role, she shared that youth affairs is her true passion, a passion she has clearly exhibited through her longstanding dedication to youth development initiatives here in the Turks and Caicos Islands, including her service as a Member of the Rotaract and the Turks and Caicos Islands Youth Parliament.
This appointment is a well-deserved recognition of her hard work, leadership and commitment and I am confident that Ms. Howell’s innovative approach and unwavering dedication will significantly contribute to the advancement and empowerment of the young people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Congratulations on this remarkable achievement and well-deserved promotion Ms. Howell”
