TCI News
TCI: Respect for children encouraged in MoE and UNICEF ‘Positive Discipline’ campaign
#Providenciales, May 31, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The Ministry of Education in partnership with UNICEF is giving more intentional focus to better disciplinary practices in a campaign called, Positive Discipline is Possible with Young Children.
“The Ministry of Education has embarked on a campaign to ensure that all of its institutions are operating in accordance to the ‘Child-friendly Principles’. Child-friendly schools are guided by three main principles namely: Child-centeredness, Inclusion and Democratic Participation. Similar to schools in the Eastern Caribbean region, the Turks and Caicos Islands has focused its attention on implementing positive Behaviour Management, Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) and healthy Lifestyles, Student Participation, Parental and Community Involvement, Policies that Protect Children and Student Centeredness.”
Education Officer with a focus on Child Safeguarding, Heidi Williams explained that while most schools already have best practices in place, the campaign is designed to heighten awareness.
“Positive discipline is a method of teaching appropriate behaviour by interacting with children in a kind but firm manner. The aim of positive discipline is to prevent behavioural problems before they start by teaching routines, understanding, and providing support.”
It may be peculiar in our culture of ‘be seen and not heard’ as a general rule for children, to embrace this method of guiding healthier behaviour and kinder reactions to misbehavior, but Williams is supported by UNICEF in the mission to introduce the ‘Child Friendly Policies’.
“In addition, research has shown that treating children with respect forms the basis for a nurturing, secure, trustworthy and loving relationship between the parent and the child, and is more effective in the long –term than punishment,” explained Ms. Williams.
The new policies in child-rearing are not a carte blanche for children to be rude toward or to rule their parents and teachers; in fact, UNICEF has proven that the principles work to establish greater harmony and understanding.
“Positive discipline does not mean letting children have their own way, but rather setting realistic expectations and firm boundaries that are both developmentally and age appropriate.”
The campaign has included Public Service Announcements on radio, television and social media and more.
“While many of these areas currently exist within our school systems, we have set into motion a campaign to bring about greater awareness of positive discipline, not only in our schools but in the homes. Further to this, a number of strategies have been put in place, in addition to workshops being held and distribution of pamphlets to parents.”
The ‘Positive Discipline is Possible’ campaign is funded by UNICEF.
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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?
PROVIDENCIALES — New commercial Crown Land applications are facing a six-month pause as the Turks and Caicos Islands Government takes inventory of its holdings.
During Cabinet meetings held July 15 and 16, an immediate six-month moratorium was approved on the acceptance, processing
and approval of new applications for commercial Crown Land grants, leases and allocations.
The pause will remain in place pending completion of the Crown Land Inventory Review. Cabinet’s summary did not state what prompted the review or indicate whether availability of commercial Crown Land is a concern.
The two-day meeting also advanced major consumer legislation. Cabinet approved the National Fair Competition Policy 2026 and drafting instructions for a Fair Competition Ordinance, moving TCI toward stronger consumer protection and fair competition rules.
In Grand Turk, Cabinet approved rezoning land in the North West Suburbs from low-density to medium-density residential use to facilitate a new apartment development.
Cabinet also advanced fisheries reforms, water legislation allowing private and public-private investment, minerals legislation and appointments across tourism, health and finance.
Progress toward establishing a TCI Credit Union was also noted.
PROVIDENCIALES — Major development projects outside Providenciales received Cabinet attention on July 8, with Government approving agreements connected to the redevelopment of Dellis Cay and a resort development in North Caicos.
Cabinet approved a Development Agreement between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Desarrollos Hotelco DC Ltd. and
Desarrollos Hotelco Astoria Ltd. for the redevelopment of Dellis Cay.
The long-discussed private island development sits between Providenciales and North Caicos and its return to Cabinet signals another step toward redevelopment.
Cabinet also approved amendments to an agreement involving SPR LND Ltd. (Royal Reef) and TCIG Development Agreement for a resort/hotel development in North Caicos.
Other decisions included approval of the First Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026 for onward transmission and the appointment of Cindy Ewing as Chair of the Invest TCI Board, effective August 1 for three years.
Cabinet also noted consultation outcomes concerning changes to business licensing, approved professional membership expenses for qualifying Telecommunications Commission staff and approved advice relating to the Interim Clinical and Estates Services PPP.
The July 8 meeting was chaired by Acting Governor Anya Williams.
Photo Credit: Royal Reef (Keith)
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