TCI News

TCI: Progress on summer Capital Works at Public Schools

Published

6 years ago

October 4, 2019

#Providenciales, October 4, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture, Social and Library Services wishes to inform the public about the work undertaken to have schools ready for the 2019/20 school year.

The table below summarizes the progress of the summer maintenance works carried out at each school:

School	Progress to date
Doris Robinson Primary School	100% of the proposed work completed
Adelaide Oemler Primary School	100% of the proposed work completed
C Hubert James Primary School	80% of the proposed work completed. Minor work to be completed including ACs and window installation
Raymond Gardiner High School	80% of the summer work completed in time for the reopening of school.
H J Robinson High School	100% of the summer works completed. Capital projects are ongoing. Expected to be completed by December 2019
Eliza Simons Primary School	100% of the summer works completed
Ona Glinton Primary School	100% of the summer work completed
Long Bay High School	100% of the summer work completed
Enid Capron Primary School	100% of the summer work completed

While major summer works were completed in time for the reopening of school on 2^nd September 2019, capital works continues at Clement Howell High School, Iris Stubbs Primary School, Marjorie Basden High and the H J Robinson High School. As per Planning requirements and considerations for health and safety of students, the works are being undertaken so that there is minimum impact or disruption to schools. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Infrastructure are pleased to inform you of the progress of the work to date:

H J Robinson High School: School Infrastructure Project Phase 1 – Renovations and Upgrade to CVQ Block at HJ Robinson High School – All doors have been replaced. Stairs to the Science block has been demolished, rebuilt and painted. Structural repairs to the Visual Arts block has been completed. Ceiling has been replaced and painted. All A/C units have been replaced in the staffroom. The project is at 31% completion and will be completed by December 2019.

Marjorie Basden High School: School Infrastructure Recovery Project – Repairs to cracks on gable end walls and columns for classroom blocks A & B completed. New windows installed to classroom blocks A & B. Roof decking replaced with peal and seal to block A. New floor tiles installed to toilet block with new toilets and face basin. New roof sheeting installed to toilet block and walls painted. Steel reinforcement and form work being finalized for pouring of concrete to suspended floor for the new two-storey classroom block. Overall completion is at 28%. Completion is scheduled for April 2020.

Iris Stubbs Primary School: Schools Infrastructure Recovery Projects – ISPS – Roof structure completed, roof sheeting installed. Walls rendered. Windows and doors are installed to classrooms. Ceiling installed to classrooms. Floor tiles are being laid in classrooms. Electrical conduits and boxes are being installed. Walls and ceilings are being primed with paint. Project is at 66% overall. The main classroom block will be completed by November 2019.

Clement Howell High School: School Infrastructure Project Phase 2 – Repairs to CHHS – Admin Block – foundation for extension of toilet poured. Peal and seal to roof completed. Claudette Dean Block – Damaged roofing structure removed and rafters strengthened. Second lift poured to secure rafters. Plywood decking installed. Claudette Clare Block – Same as Claudette Dean block. New roof trusses installed. The project is 6% overall completed.

The administrators, teachers, support staff at the Clement Howell High School and the contractor and his team of workers have taken the necessary precautions to reduce disruption to teaching and learning, minimize risks and ensure the safety of teachers, students and visitors alike.

The capital works being carried out will result in modernization of the infrastructure and aesthetics of each school, providing children with safe learning spaces and laboratories equipped with instructional resources to enable and support learning.

The work to repair and upgrade the Oseta Jolly Primary School and the Mary Robinson Primary School are ongoing:

Oseta Jolly Primary School: Repairs to roof structure of the two-storey block. Repairs to internal metal partitions to upper floor. Repairs to plywood decking and peal and seal to roof of single storey block. Demolition and repairs to roof structure of the Admin block. Demolition of the condemned 3-classroom block. Installation of formwork for new columns and beam to water cistern to support new 3-classroom block. Poured footing for security hut. Excavate foundation for new toilet block. Project is at 13% overall.

Mary Robinson Primary School: Demolition of the damaged roof structure and gable walls to water cistern. Construction of new gable walls and roof truss to water cistern completed. The contractor is awaiting the arrival of plywood and peal and seal for the roof of the main school building to arrive on island before commencing to strip the existing roof structure so as not to leave the building exposed to the elements.

The Ministry remains committed to building a resilient and inclusive education system.

Release: TCIG

TCI News

VisitTCI and Potcake Place Highlight Growing Homeless Dog Crisis

Published

3 days ago

October 10, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — The Turks and Caicos Islands could soon be facing a major tourism problem: thousands more stray dogs.

It’s a likely consequence of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ban on US puppy imports, says Potcake Place K9 Rescue founder and director Jane ParkerRauw in a new video produced by Visit Turks and Caicos Islands.

The collaboration between the country’s leading tourism website and the charity dog rescue—which works to reduce the local population of homeless dogs—sheds light on how the CDC ruling has disrupted the charity’s operations and is contributing to an alarming rise in the country’s homeless dogs.

“It’s going to take years of getting back from [the progress we’ve lost] over the last 14 months,” said Parker-Rauw in an interview with VisitTCI. “I can’t stress how in such a short period of time, this is going to have such an impact on tourism here.”

On Aug. 1, 2024, the CDC’s ban on importing dogs less than six months old into the US took effect. The ban aims to prevent the introduction of DMRVV (dog-maintained rabies virus variant) into the US.

Since then, Potcake Place has been unable to find homes for hundreds of puppies. For the first time in the rescue’s 25-year history, they have had to turn away dogs.

“If we allow stray dogs to overrun the islands, it will inevitably affect the experience of our visitors and the tourism industry as a whole,” says Daniel J. LeVin, executive editor of VisitTCI. “Visit Turks and Caicos Islands works hard to promote the Turks and Caicos as one of the world’s premier travel destinations, and that means supporting efforts that protect the environment, community, and visitor experience.”

Many residents of Providenciales remember a time when wild dogs were shot to keep packs in check, or more recently, the fatal attack of a North Caicos woman in 2012 by feral dogs.

Large stray populations pose health and safety risks, deter tourists, and strain public resources. Many puppies the Potcake Place has had to turn away since the ban began have likely already had puppies themselves, says Parker-Rauw.

The impact of controlling a potentially explosive population of homeless dogs could have serious negative effects on the Turks and Caicos tourism industry, as seen in countries like Turkey.

“Two dogs in six years, if none of their offspring die, will produce 62,000 dogs,” says Parker-Rauw. “This is a major problem.”

The United States accounts for over 80% of visitors to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the vast majority of Potcake Place’s adoptions.

Since the ban came into effect, US adoptions have dropped from roughly 500 per year to just five per month, says Parker-Rauw. Getting older puppies to the US is challenging, as they’re too large for airline cabins and not permitted in the hold of planes traveling between Turks and Caicos and the US.

Potcake Place has been advocating for a revision of the ban to allow puppies from lowrisk rabies or rabies-free countries into the US. Turks and Caicos is a DMRVV-free country, and all puppies adopted through Potcake Place are fully vaccinated before travel.

This collaboration is one of several that Visit Turks and Caicos Islands has spearheaded this year to promote sustainable tourism. Both the video and an expanded article can be found at www.visittci.com/news .

TCI News

Turks and Caicos Islands Reaffirms Status as Premier Beach and Romance Destination at World Travel Awards

Published

7 days ago

October 6, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant, Experience Turks and Caicos

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – (October 6th, 2025) – The Turks and Caicos Islands has once again reaffirmed its status as the Caribbean’s premier beach and romance destination at the annual World Travel Awards.

At the ceremony held in Saint Lucia on October 4th, the destination was named the region’s Leading Beach Destination and Most Romantic Destination. Turks and Caicos has captured the Leading Beach Destination title every year since 2015 and the Most Romantic Destination award for seven consecutive years.

“It is no secret that the Turks and Caicos Islands is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, and we are honoured that voters continue to recognise this. Our pristine waters and secluded settings also make the destination one of the world’s most romantic getaways, especially for couples seeking luxury and intimacy. On behalf of Experience Turks and Caicos, I extend sincere thanks to the World Travel Awards and to everyone who voted in support of our islands,” said Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant, Experience Turks and Caicos.

Experience Turks and Caicos would like to extend congratulations to our hotel partners and stakeholders who also won regional recognition at the World Travel Awards.

Beaches – Caribbean’s Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort 2025

The Palms – Caribbean’s Leading All-Suite Hotel 2025

Ambergris Cay Private Island Resort – Caribbean’s Leading Private Island Resort 2025

InterCaribbean – Caribbean’s Leading Cabin Crew 2025

Turks and Caicos Islands Awards

Windsong Resort – Turks and Caicos Leading Boutique Hotel 2025

The Palms – Turks and Caicos Leading Hotel 2025

Grace Bay Club – Turks and Caicos Leading Luxury Resort 2025

The Shore Club – Turks and Caicos Leading Resort 2025

Four-bedroom Oceanfront Penthouse @Windsong Resort – Turks and Caicos Leading Hotel Suite 2025

Avis – Turks and Caicos Leading Car Rental Company 2025

Caicos Dream Tours – Turks and Caicos Leading Tour Operator 2025

Olympia Destination Management Company – Turks and Caicos Leading Destination Management Company 2025

The Turks and Caicos Islands now has an opportunity to win ultimate recognition in global travel and tourism with three global nominations in the World Travel Awards for the following:

World’s Leading Beach Destination
World’s Leading Island Destination
World’s Most Romantic Destination

The “World’s Leading” categories are the highest in the World Travel Awards programme. Voting runs from October 6^th -26th October 2025. Votes can be cast by travel professionals, media and tourism consumers, with the nominee gaining the most votes announced as the 2025 World Travel Awards winner.

TCI News

103 Migrants Intercepted by U.S. Coast Guard and TCI Agencies

Published

3 weeks ago

September 21, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Turks and Caicos, September 21, 2025 – On Sunday, September 21st, 2025, the United States Coast Guard Southeast (USCG), working in coordination with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RT&CIPF) Marine Branch, the TCI Regiment, and the TCI Border Force, intercepted a vessel carrying 103 migrants bound for Providenciales.

The suspicious vessel, first tracked by the USCG, was stopped at sea and later secured by the Sea Guardian vessel, which towed it safely to South Dock Marina. Upon arrival, the migrants were disembarked and handed over to the TCI Border Force for processing.

A breakdown of those on board confirmed:

75 males (including two minors)
28 females (including two minors)

This interception marks the 18th such operation in 2025, bringing the total number of migrants detained this year to 1,510. The RT&CIPF thanks the USCG and local agencies for their close cooperation, noting that this successful outcome demonstrates the effectiveness of layered security measures protecting the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Force reminds the public that illegal migration is dangerous and life-threatening, and violations of the law will not be tolerated.

Anyone with information on illegal migration is urged to contact the nearest police station, call 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 or via the P3 app.

Photos Courtesy: Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force