Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 5 August 2026 — Dr. Candice Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC), has been appointed First Vice-President of the Association of Caribbean Higher Education Administrators (ACHEA) for the 2026–2028 term.

The appointment followed elections held during ACHEA’s Annual General Meeting on 2 July 2026 at the Breezes Resort & Spa in Nassau, The Bahamas. The newly elected Executive officially assumed office on 1 August 2026.

ACHEA is a regional professional association that brings together higher education administrators and professionals from institutions across the Caribbean. The Association provides an important platform for regional collaboration, professional development, knowledge-sharing and the advancement of effective leadership and administration within the higher education sector.

This year holds special significance for the Association as ACHEA celebrates its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of service to higher education leadership and institutional development across the region. The milestone reflects the organisation’s sustained growth, expanding influence and continued commitment to strengthening tertiary education systems throughout the Caribbean and beyond.

Dr. Williams’s appointment as First Vice-President represents a significant professional achievement and a proud milestone for TCICC and the wider Turks and Caicos Islands. It positions the country’s higher education leadership at the forefront of regional dialogue and initiatives aimed at strengthening institutional governance, improving administrative practices and addressing emerging priorities within Caribbean tertiary education.

In her role as First Vice-President, Dr. Williams will support the President and Executive in advancing the Association’s strategic objectives, strengthening engagement among member institutions and contributing to initiatives that promote excellence, innovation and sustainable development throughout the regional higher education sector.

The Honourable Rachel Marshall Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, congratulated Dr. Williams on the appointment, noting that her elevation reflects both her distinguished leadership and the growing influence of the Turks and Caicos Islands within the regional education community.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Candice Williams on her appointment as First Vice-President of ACHEA. This achievement is a testament to her exemplary leadership, professionalism and unwavering commitment to the advancement of higher education. Her appointment is also a proud moment for the Turks and Caicos Islands, as it ensures that our national perspectives and experiences will continue to contribute meaningfully to important regional discussions. We are confident that Dr. Williams will serve with distinction and make a valuable contribution to the continued growth and development of higher education administration throughout the Caribbean.”

Following the Minister’s remarks, Mrs Sheba Wilson, Chairman of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College Board of Govenors, also commended Dr. Williams’s appointment, highlighting the broader institutional and regional significance of her leadership role.

The Chairman reflected on the importance of sustained representation at the regional level and the College’s growing engagement within Caribbean higher education networks.

“Dr. Williams’s appointment to the ACHEA Executive is a clear reflection of the calibre of leadership we are fortunate to have at the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College. It also underscores the increasing visibility and respect that our institution and country are earning within regional higher education circles. We are especially proud that TCICC continues to contribute meaningfully to shaping conversations that influence the future of tertiary education across the Caribbean.”

Dr. Williams’s appointment also reinforces TCICC’s commitment to strengthening regional partnerships, sharing institutional expertise and contributing to the development of responsive and innovative higher education systems. Her participation at the executive level will provide further opportunities for TCICC to engage with regional institutions, exchange best practices and help shape approaches to the challenges and opportunities facing tertiary education across the Caribbean.

A notable moment in ACHEA’s recent history was the 2025 Annual Conference, which Dr. Williams had the privilege of hosting in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This marked the first time the Association convened its flagship conference in the TCI, welcoming more than 100 higher education administrators, researchers and thought leaders from across the Caribbean, North America and Africa to the destination. The event was widely regarded as a resounding success and is now recognised as a defining milestone in the Association’s development as it moves into its 25th anniversary year.

Reflecting on her appointment, Dr. Williams expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in her and reaffirmed her commitment to supporting the work of the Association.

“I am deeply honoured to have been entrusted with the responsibility of serving as First Vice-President of ACHEA. I am grateful to the Association’s membership for the confidence placed in me and look forward to working alongside the President, fellow Executive members and higher education professionals throughout the region. This appointment provides an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration, promote innovative administrative practices and support the continued development of institutions that are responsive to the needs of Caribbean learners and communities. I am also proud to represent the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College and the wider Turks and Caicos Islands as we contribute to the advancement of higher education across the region.”

The newly elected ACHEA Executive for the 2026–2028 term comprises:

• President: Dr. Helen Williams-Cumberbatch
• First Vice-President: Dr. Candice Williams
• Second Vice-President: Ms Louri Clare
• Secretary: Mrs Kasiane Reid-Martin
• Assistant Secretary: Ms Sanielle Hinds
• Treasurer: Ms Michelle Bruce
• Assistant Treasurer: Dr. Courtney Garrick
• Public Relations Officer: Ms Nataki Kerr
• Assistant Public Relations Officer: Ms Alison Johnson

In a statement announcing the newly elected Executive, ACHEA extended its sincere appreciation to all members who participated in the election process and acknowledged the outgoing Executive members for their exemplary leadership, commitment and dedicated service throughout the previous term.

The full Executive, including members appointed to co-opted positions, will be introduced shortly.

Dr. Williams previously served as Second Vice-President of ACHEA. Her elevation to First Vice-President reflects the confidence of the Association’s membership in her leadership, experience and continued contribution to the advancement of higher education administration throughout the Caribbean.

What Premier Charles Washington Misick says the proposed constitutional reforms are—and are not.

FACT 1: The proposed amendments are not intended to extend the life of Parliament.

According to Premier Misick, his Government did not request longer parliamentary terms and has not sought constitutional changes to keep itself in office beyond the existing electoral cycle.

FACT 2: Cabinet expansion is about governing capacity, not political power.

The Premier says the proposed increase in the number of ministers reflects the growing responsibilities of Government and is intended to improve administration rather than create political advantage.

FACT 3: The Government wants greater local responsibility.

Misick says the constitutional proposals are designed to strengthen the Turks and Caicos Islands’ ability to govern its own affairs while maintaining its constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom.

FACT 4: The Constitution should not become a political weapon.

The Premier argues constitutional reform should be approached as a national issue that outlives individual governments and political parties.

Include his strongest quote on this point.

FACT 5: The Commission process involved consultation.

According to the Premier, the constitutional proposals emerged through discussions with the Constitutional Review Commission and engagement with stakeholders before being presented to the United Kingdom.

Insert his supporting quote.

FACT 6: Government is seeking better governance, not fewer checks and balances.

The Premier maintains the reforms are intended to improve decision-making, accountability and the effectiveness of Government.

Insert his supporting quote.

FACT 7: The Premier says some proposals now being criticized were previously supported.

Misick contends that several constitutional recommendations now under attack had earlier received support across the political spectrum.

Insert the relevant quotation.

FACT 8: The goal is a modern Constitution.

The Premier says the reforms are intended to modernize the Turks and Caicos Islands’ governance framework to better reflect today’s realities and future development.

Insert his closing quotation.

Editor’s Note

This Fact Report summarizes Premier Charles Washington Misick’s explanation of the proposed constitutional amendments as presented in the House of Assembly on July 31, 2026. It reflects the Premier’s stated positions and is intended to help readers understand the Government’s rationale. Responses from the Opposition and other stakeholders will be presented separately.

Premier says people deserve the full story as he lays out the cost of the InterHealth Canada concession and Government’s plan to reclaim public control

By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Turks and Caicos, August 4, 2026 – PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — Saying the public deserved to hear the whole story, Premier Charles Washington Misick laid bare the InterHealth Canada debacle, revealing that more than $827 million has been paid by the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands under the hospital concession while insisting, “the contract is the problem, not the hospitals.”

Delivering what he described as “a full and frank account” to the House of Assembly on July 31, the Premier said the people “deserve honesty. They deserve to understand how we arrived at this moment, what it has cost them, and what this Government is doing about it.” He acknowledged that the opening of modern hospitals in Providenciales and Grand Turk marked “a genuine step forward for healthcare,” but argued that the agreement supporting them was fundamentally flawed.

“The hospitals themselves are an asset. The contract under which they are operated has become an unsustainable burden.”

Turning to the origins of the agreement, Misick relied heavily on the findings of the Commission of Inquiry led by Sir Robin Auld, saying the public must understand why the dispute has become so costly.

“There was no competitive tender. The construction contract was awarded to a company linked to the same ultimate beneficial owner as InterHealth Canada itself — creating, in the Commission’s own words, a closed commercial loop in which public money flowed from the government to one entity and back to the same private interest through another. The Commission found this constituted an unacceptable conflict of interest.”

He continued:

“Those findings had consequences that extended far beyond this project. They contributed directly to the suspension of our Constitution and the imposition of direct rule from London in 2009.”

The Premier said he was not revisiting the history to assign blame but because “the House and the public must understand the nature of the problem we inherited — and why the structural flaws embedded in this agreement from the very beginning have proven so difficult and so costly to resolve.”

Misick also outlined what he described as the staggering financial burden now carried by taxpayers.

“Between 2016 and 2025, this Territory spent $827.8 million on public healthcare. Today, healthcare consumes more than 32 percent of all government expenditure and 8.1 percent of our GDP.”

He argued the concession’s payment model is largely responsible for those costs.

“The operator was reimbursed for its actual costs, plus a fixed margin… That is not a sustainable model for any healthcare system. And it is a central reason why the cost of this arrangement has grown to the levels we are now confronting.”

Looking ahead, the Premier said the Government’s focus is not only on resolving the current concession but also on preventing small island states from facing similar legal and financial burdens in the future.

“We will engage the United Kingdom Government… We will work through CARICOM and the Commonwealth to advocate for reform of international arbitration — to introduce procedural flexibility, development-sensitive interpretation, and affordability safeguards that protect small states from the disproportionate burden that the current system imposes.”

He closed by reaffirming his Government’s objective:

“This Government will resolve the concession. It will reclaim the hospitals. And it will build a healthcare system worthy of the trust that our people place in it.”