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TCI: Educators and Education Officers now better equipped to protect vulnerable children

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#Providenciales, July 31, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture, Library and Social Services with the support from the European Union is working to ensure Education Officers and school Principals are better equipped to identify and cope with children who may be exposed to or suffering from violence and abuse.

Ms. Heidy Williams is the Education Officer with responsibility for Early Childhood Education and she explained that a recent training session successfully demonstrated to participants their key roles and responsibilities when it comes to safeguarding children, “Child protection and safe-guarding refers to the protection and safe-guarding of all children against violence. It ensures that systems are in place to prevent, identify and stop violence that are already happening. Violence against children can be in the form of poor nutrition, poor health care, lack of affection, unresponsive care, child maltreatment, neglect, corporal punishment, exposure to violence and abuse (physical, emotional, sexual).”

Hurting children can now be much better served due to the techniques and strategies learned during the training session. Ms. Williams said a component of the program called, Courageous Conversation, had a major impact on the educators.

“Holding Courageous Conversations is the process of having the confidence to be bold and direct in order to show awareness and bring about change to a situation, recognizing that the implications can be difficult but the outcomes are generally positive.”

Admittedly, when these situations arise, they can be disconcerting and downright uncomfortable. 

Ms. Williams notes that “these components are extremely important to the Ministry because children are most vulnerable to violence and these adverse experiences early in life can impair the brain architecture. Early stress due to violence elevates the stress hormone cortisol and this can disrupt brain development altering academic performance and causing harmful mental and physical consequences that can last into adulthood.”

Ms. Williams further expressed that even one incident where a child is impacted by negative events or environments are viewed as too much.

“With the challenges of sporadic incidences of violence against children, the Ministry of Education recognizes the need to be proactive in guaranteeing the safety and well-being of children into adulthood,” said Ms. Williams who added that the training even helped Education Officers and Principals to understand how to begin Courageous Conversations. The method we are using is known as the ‘OARS Approach’.  It is an acronym for O- open ended questions; A- Affirmation; R- Reflective listening and S for Summarizing.  Emphasis was placed on how to interview, noting the importance of preparation, opening comments, body language, how to respond, listening and tone of voice.”

Public and private school principals and Education Officers were equipped with the skills of active listening without interrupting, how to interview, how to analyze a situation and the risk involved, how to stay neutral, methods of getting one’s attention, words to avoid when interviewing parents, helping them to find solutions to problems and methods of communicating to children in an age appropriate manner.

The training was facilitated by Barnardo’s, a British charity dedicated to protecting vulnerable children and organised for the Turks and Caicos from May 4-6, 2019 by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

“Improving the Education System in the TCI…..Together we can do it”

#magneticmedianews

#improvingeducationinthetci

#euandmoe

#protectingvulnerablekidsintci

TCI News

Water restrictions extended, says Provo Water Company

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Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

Water restrictions for Providenciales customers will continue in May according to communication from Provo Water Company. The announcement came on May 1, a day after restrictions were supposed to end, and as the company continues projects to expand inflow.

“While diligently advancing these initiatives, the organization has determined that the nightly water restrictions remain necessary to ensure the replenishment of daily reserves as it strives to keep these projects on track,” said PWC in response to Magnetic Media questions on the scheduled end to the lock offs.

The May restrictions will not be every night rather they will be implemented on an as needed basis to safeguard those daily water reserves the company says. In the instance that they are implemented, restrictions will run from 11:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. a six-and-a-half hour cutoff rather than the initial 9:00 pm to 6:00 a.m.

“The company is actively pursuing multiple projects, including upgrades to the city water transmission main, the main city water line valves, and the Middle Booster Pump Station, alongside various other initiatives, to ensure long-term solutions to the supply issues,” PWC promised in the press release as they apologized for the extension.

The ongoing transmission main project is the closest to completion and should have been wrapped up in May, instead, that has been pushed to mid-June according to the company.

The water restrictions were initially announced in March, to be end in April because of increased demand outstripping the supply at the Suzy Turn reservoir. Credited for the increased demand is the large numbers of tourists and increasing residents that are entering the Turks and Caicos pressuring a system not made for the number of individuals now relying on it.

In June as PWC expects to complete the transmission main project, a record number of monthly air travelers will be heading to Providenciales; almost 80,000 according to the Ministry of Tourism highlighting the urgency of the upgrades.

 

 

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Government

On Monday, PDM to reveal its General Election slate

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Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

Over a year after opening its doors for candidate applications, the People’s Democratic Movement is ready to reveal the 10 individuals who will contest the electoral districts in the 2025 general elections.

Ezra Taylor communicated with the media on April 30th following reports that several candidates had received confirmation letters in the weeks prior.

“After an extensive exercise conducted by the People’s Democratic Movement, we are pleased to announce to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands that an official launch of our ten district candidates will take place on May 6, 2024, at 11:00 am,” Taylor indicated.

The team is being kept under wraps until the reveal date but at least one candidate is certain as the team will be: “Under the strong, caring, and trusted leadership of the Hon. Edwin Astwood assisted by a dynamic group of candidates, who together, will forge a future where Turks and Caicos Islanders will feel safe, prosper and fulfill their potential,” Taylor said, indicating that Astwood would reprise his role as Opposition Leader, and likely as candidate for Grand Turk South and Salt Cay based on his own comments.

Astwood was the only PDM candidate to hold onto a seat in the last election, an overwhelmingly yellow victory for the PNP.

In the selection of their five all island candidates which have already been revealed, the PDM placed trust in quite a few of the candidates from that failed election bid, including Karen Malcolm, Robert Been, Ralph Higgs, and Sean Astwood. It remains to be seen whether voters are ready to embrace again, the PDM as the government of the islands.

Edwin Astwood has however stressed that it was the vote of the people that decided who got a spot in the all-island lineup. The opposition leader indicated that surveys had been carried out with over 1,000 respondents indicating who they wanted to run.

“We don’t know how things happened in the past with other parties but we wanted you the people to make the decision and whatever decision you made we were going to live with it. You made this decision for me and I thank you,” he had said to the public.

The PDM has not confirmed whether that was the deciding factor in the second round of candidates as well.

However National Chairman Taylor is confident in their selections maintaining that:

“During this crucial time in our country, Turks and Caicos Islanders need a people-centered government that will address the needs of our country, and lead our country with a sense of purpose. The People’s Democratic Movement is ready, willing and able.”

 

 

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Crime

No guns, No bullets when travelling to the Caribbean; You could 10-25 Years in Prison

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

Americans need to check their luggage for contraband including bullets before leaving home or expect long jail times and hefty fines that advice is coming from within their own country courtesy of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

In an article last updated February 14, 2024 the ATF said.

“While you’re packing your sunscreen and snorkel gear, don’t forget to check your luggage and clothing to remove all guns and ammunition. Many countries in the Caribbean do not allow possession of firearms or ammunition unless you have a local permit and, if arrested while traveling, the United States Embassy will not be able to secure your release.”

Recent arrests of visitors in the Turks and Caicos islands for ammunition possession have garnered international attention highlighting two interwoven issues: Americans may not be researching the laws of their vacation destinations well enough (despite encouragement from the ATF) and Caribbean countries may not be doing enough to publicize their laws.

One of the most publicized arrests, that of Ryan Watson, a father of two who entered the country with 4 bullets which he and his wife say was a mistake, is one example.

“We were trying to pack board shorts and flip flops,” Valerie Watson told CBS News. “Packing ammunition was not at all our intent.”

When Magnetic Media visited the official Turks and Caicos Tourism Website, listed at the bottom of the home page were entry requirements. A click on the entry requirements tab revealed in the very first paragraph, this statement:

“In order to bring in firearms of any type (including spear guns and Hawaiian slings), one must have written approval from the Commissioner of Police.”

It’s a clear warning, though it does not mention the mandatory 12 year sentence or the fact that ammunition possession carries the same penalty.

Regardless, it’s there for all potential visitors to see; In fact the Turks and Caicos’ warning is more forward facing than its nearest comparable neighbors who arguably have a much longer reach and more experience in tourism. Magnetic Media found it difficult to find any such warnings on the VisitJamaica or the Bahamas.com websites.

It’s a stark contrast to the ATF website which warns over and over “Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines”

“If you are arrested for gun trafficking abroad, you could be imprisoned, fined or both, and the State Department will not be able to secure your release”

Despite this many Americans continue to make the same mistake, with four such cases pending this year.

Increased diligence from firearm holders and an increased visibility of local laws could work in tandem to protect guests and the tourism industry Caribbean Countries rely on.

Simultaneously, others, arguably the loudest voices, are calling on the government to repeal the law and make provisions for those who may have had no intent to smuggle anything into the country.

 

 

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