News
Emergency Medical Services Personnel Benefits From Training Collaboration With West Midlands Ambulance Service
PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 10 March 2025: In an ongoing collaboration between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department and the West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) from the UK, a recent clinical training initiative has been successfully concluded. The initiative highlights the strengthening of ties between the two
organisations and focuses on enhancing the skill sets of EMS personnel working on the frontlines of emergency care across the islands.
A team of experts from the West Midlands Ambulance Service led by the Ambassador for Health of the Overseas Territories, Professor Ian Cumming, faciliated the specialised training, designed specifically to meet the needs of the EMS staff working in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The team included two highly experienced Clinical Team Mentors (CTMs) – Linda Wood and Adam Black – alongside Timothy Atherton, a 16-year veteran Paramedic and Tactical Incident Commander (TIC). In their respective roles, the CTMs bring invaluable expertise in clinical training, while Mr. Atherton’s extensive experience in managing major incident responses proved invaluable in addressing complex scenarios faced by EMS teams in the islands.
The initiative, held from 17th February to 7th March 2025, took place at the Ministry of Health’s conference room in Providenciales. The training program saw participation from EMS personnel from across the islands and focused on enhancing clinical skills and patient care. The goal was to improve the quality of emergency services, ensuring that both residents and visitors experience the highest level of care when using the ambulance service in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
This training marks the first phase of a broader strategy aimed at advancing prehospital care in the TCI. Developed through comprehensive data collection and analysis led by the Director of EMS, Andy Brijmohansingh, in collaboration with the senior leadership of the Ministry of Health and Human Services and the West Midlands Ambulance Service, this phased approach is designed to build a sustainable, long-term model for improving emergency services.
Honourable Kyle Knowles, Minister of Health and Human Services, commented on the success of the initiative, stating: “The Turks and Caicos Islands can look forward to an improved experience when utilising ambulance services across the nation, thanks to the enhanced training of our personnel. This is just the beginning of a continuous process of improvement aimed at providing exceptional care to our residents and visitors alike.”
For more information, please visit the Ministry of Health and Human Services’ official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.
Photo Captions
1st insert: L-R: Adam Black, Linda Wood, Hugh Green, Howard Ainsworth, Andy Brijmohansingh, Tremayne Williams,
Maurice McKenzie, Maxie Pierre, Edwin Taveras, Zack Metus, Renende Charles, Delon Dennis, Timothy Atherton
2nd insert: L-R: Adam Black. Linda Wood, Professor Ian Cumming, Timothy Atherton
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 20 February 2026 — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in collaboration with key
government agencies, coordinated a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Block and Parcel 60609/33 in the Five Cays area.
The exercise was led by the Crown Land Unit, pursuant to its statutory mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land. The ISU coordinated the operation, with support provided by the Planning Department and the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, while the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force ensured security throughout the activity.
The enforcement action followed a series of inspections conducted by the Crown Land Unit throughout Five Cays, which identified several illegally constructed buildings made of concrete and timber on sections of the subject parcel. In keeping with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance, occupied structures were served Letters of Illegal Occupation, delivered by hand to occupants and
posted on structures where individuals were absent. Incomplete and unoccupied structures were served Notices of Unauthorized Occupation pursuant to section 22 of the Ordinance. A total of ten (10) Letters of Illegal Occupation and three (3) Notices of Unauthorized Occupation were issued during the exercise.
The Informal Settlements Unit reiterates that these coordinated enforcement exercises form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the law, protect Crown land, and manage informal settlements in a structured and lawful manner. Members of the public are reminded that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown land is unlawful and subject to enforcement action.
February is National Self- Check Month and family medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, OH, John Hanicak, MD, highlights why at home self-checks are extremely important when it comes to not just early cancer detection but identifying other illnesses too and offers tips on what to look out for.
“Sometimes I look at them as sort of like your check engine light on the car, just like there would be a red flashing light that tells you that
there’s something wrong with a car and prompts you to bring that in and get serviced. Your body does the same thing. It gives you warning signs to look into that symptom a little bit further,” said Hanicak.
Dr. Hanicak said self-checks are going to be a little different for everyone.
However, in general, he recommends looking for anything that may seem abnormal, such as unexplained weight loss, blood in your urine, bumps and bruises that won’t heal, and changes in bowel habits.
For example, if you suddenly start going to the bathroom a lot more than you used to, that could be a sign of something more serious.
He also suggests doing regular skin checks and documenting any moles or spots that start to look different.
“Realize that you are your own person. There’s nobody else in the world exactly like you. You’ve got your own set of ideas, your own family history and your own genetics. Know what is normal for you, and when that changes, that’s the kind of thing that we would be interested in talking about,” said Dr. Hanicak.
Dr. Hanicak notes that self-checks are not meant to replace cancer screenings, as those are just as important to keep up with.
Press Release: Cleveland Clinic
PM: Project delivers on promise and invests in youth, sports and national development
GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas — Calling it the fulfillment of a major commitment to the island, Prime Minister Philip Davis led the official groundbreaking for the Grand Bahama Aquatic Centre, a facility the government says will transform sports development and create new opportunities for young athletes.
Speaking at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex on February 12, the Prime Minister said the project represents more than bricks and mortar
— it is an investment in people, national pride and long-term economic activity. The planned complex will feature a modern 50-metre competition pool, designed to meet international standards for training and regional and global swim meets. Davis said the facility will give Bahamian swimmers a home capable of producing world-class performance while also providing a space for community recreation, learn-to-swim programmes and water safety training.
He noted that Grand Bahama has long produced outstanding athletes despite limited infrastructure and said the new centre is intended to correct that imbalance, positioning the island as a hub for aquatic sports and sports tourism.
The Prime Minister also linked the development to the broader national recovery and revitalisation of Grand Bahama, describing the project as part of a strategy to expand opportunities for young people, create jobs during construction and stimulate activity for small businesses once operational.
The Aquatic Centre, he said, stands as proof that promises made to Grand Bahama are being delivered.
The project is expected to support athlete development, attract competitions, and provide a safe, modern environment for residents to access swimming and water-based programmes for generations to come.
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