Providenciales/Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands; Thursday, March 26, 2026 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC) welcomed prospective students, teachers, and community partners to their immersive Open Day events on Tuesday, March 24 (Providenciales campus), and Thursday, March 26 (Grand Turk campus). The campus‑wide events invited primary school pupils and secondary students from Form Three upwards to explore college life, academic offerings, and career pathways across TCICC’s faculties.

Attendees toured interactive exhibits, met staff and current students, and engaged with industry partners showcasing practical career opportunities. TCICC highlighted programmes across Technical and Vocational Education (T‑VET), Tourism and Hospitality, Business, Natural and Applied Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Education, and Continuing Education and Microcredentials (CEM).

“Open Day is more than an introduction to courses; it’s an invitation to imagine your future,” said Dr Candice Williams, President and CEO of TCICC. “Be bold in your exploration; ask the hard questions so you are fully aware.” She went on to add that “TCICC is continually evolving and deepening partnerships with industry and community groups so that our graduates are prepared for meaningful careers and civic leadership. ” Dr Williams wanted the youths to be intentional with their lives, their education, and their careers: “The choices you make today will shape the opportunities you claim tomorrow.”

A key feature of this year’s Open Day was active participation from the Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission (FSC). The FSC exhibited at both campuses to highlight career opportunities in financial services and to explain how regulatory, compliance, and professional roles support national economic resilience.

In Providenciales, Wisland Quashie, Deputy Director of Human Resources, and Sheena Smith Yip, Senior HR Manager, spoke to students and educators about pathways into the FSC, covering internships, recruitment opportunities, and the importance of technical skills, ethical practice, and continuous professional development. In Grand Turk, Dileecia Taylor, Human Resources Officer, and Zonelle Hamilton, Administrative Assistant, spoke to members of the community while representing the FSC.

Kenisha Bacchus, Managing Director (Ag) of the FSC, commended TCICC’s community‑focused approach. “TCICC’s Open Day sends a clear message: education here is practical, accessible, and directly linked to real job prospects,” she said. “By engaging now, young people will be better placed to lead our islands’ future growth. The FSC is committed to working with TCICC to build transparent career pathways in financial services, where curiosity is turned into capability.”

The TCICC Open Day blended academic showcases with career‑focused presentations from private and public sector partners, reinforcing TCICC’s community engagement mission. Industry exhibitors provided hands‑on demonstrations and guidance on internships and apprenticeships, drawing clear connections from classroom learning to employment. Representatives reiterated that TCICC remains ‘your first choice and only choice for higher education in the TCI, underscoring the college’s central role in workforce development.

For more information on programmes, events, and application procedures, visit www.tcicc.edu.tc or contact the admissions office at admissions@tcicc.edu.tc.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Department of Education in collaboration with the Department of Culture successfully hosted the 3rd Annual Local Studies Jeopardy-Style Competition, an initiative designed to promote persons’ understanding of the history, culture, and contemporary affairs of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The event took place on March 2, 2026, at the Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Complex, bringing together students, parents, educators, and community stakeholders in a celebration of national heritage and civic awareness.

This year’s competition was organized under the theme “Where Parents Lead, Children Succeed,” emphasizing the critical role of parental engagement in education. In alignment with this theme, each competing team consisted of one student and one parent, thereby fostering intergenerational collaboration and reinforcing the importance of family participation in the learning process. The inclusion of parents not only enhanced the spirit of the competition but also underscored the broader educational philosophy that student achievement is strengthened when families and schools work in partnership.

The event commenced with opening greetings delivered by the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Rachel Taylor. In her remarks, Minister Taylor highlighted the significance of the competition as a platform for showcasing national identity and collective heritage. She noted that the addition of parents as active participants represented a meaningful and progressive development in the students’ wholistic structure, further strengthening the relationship between home, school, and community. According to the Minister, initiatives such as the Local Studies Competition play a vital role in ensuring that younger generations develop a strong appreciation for the cultural and historical foundations of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The opening ceremony also featured several cultural performances that helped create an atmosphere reflective of the nation’s traditions. The Enid Capron Primary School Band performed a selection of cultural music, setting an engaging and celebratory tone for the proceedings. Additionally, students from Clement Howell High School delivered renditions of the National Anthem and the National Song, reinforcing the patriotic spirit of the occasion. The audience was formally welcomed by Director of Culture, Odessa Forbes, who expressed appreciation for the participation of schools, parents, and community members in supporting cultural education. The competition itself was skilfully moderated by Quiz Master Huntley Forbes Jr., who guided participants through the various rounds of questions.

A total of fifteen schools participated in the competition, demonstrating strong representation from across the islands. Participating institutions included: Thelma Lightbourne Primary School, Eliza Simons Primary School, Ianthe Pratt Primary School, International School, Precious Treasures Primary School, Oseta Jolly Primary School, Marjorie Basden High School, Ona Glinton Primary School, Provo Primary and Middle School, Clement Howell High School, Richmond Hill Preparatory School, Charles Hubert James Primary School, Shining Stars Preparatory School, Raymond Gardiner High School, and Enid Capron Primary School.

Throughout the competition, teams demonstrated impressive knowledge of various aspects of Turks and Caicos Islands heritage, including historical milestones, national festivals, traditional cuisine, geography, and contemporary current affairs. The high level of engagement and enthusiasm among participants reflected both the effectiveness of local studies instruction within schools and the commitment of families to supporting students’ academic development.

Following several rounds of intense and closely contested gameplay, Precious Treasures Primary School emerged as the first-place winner. International School secured second place, while Charles Hubert James Primary School earned third place. All teams displayed commendable effort, preparation, and pride in representing their schools and their knowledge of national heritage.

The Department of Education and the Department of Culture extend their sincere gratitude to all participating schools, students, parents, teachers, judges, coaches and volunteers whose contributions made the event a success. Appreciation is also expressed to the organizers, engineer, scorekeepers, timekeepers, performers, and supporters who helped create a meaningful and memorable celebration of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ history and culture. Through initiatives such as the Local Studies Jeopardy-Style Competition, the Departments reaffirm their commitment to fostering cultural awareness, national pride, and lifelong learning.

Nassau, The Bahamas — The People’s Republic of China, in the span of two decades, has transformed itself into an economic superpower the world can scarcely function without. This was one of the perspectives that added context to crucial conversations about the US-China outlook at the Central Banking Summit held at University of The Bahamas (UB) on Tuesday.

“China has gone from being, conceptually, a non-economy. It has gone from being a $2 trillion economy in 2000; today it is a $20 trillion economy. There has never been growth like that anywhere on the planet,” said Michael Drury, chief economist, McVean Trading.

In the Caribbean region and for The Bahamas, China has become both a critical link in the global supply chain and, at times, a financial partner when the price tag of major infrastructure projects proves difficult to carry alone.

During the summit, facilitated by UB’s Government and Public Policy Institute (GPPI) in partnership with the Global Interdependence Center (GIC), the outlook on US-China relations and how the world will be impacted was a key topic of discussion.

Drury appeared on a panel with Zhivargo Laing, Executive Director of UB’s GPPI. Both gave insight into China’s rapid economic rise and its growing influence over global manufacturing and trade.

“The wish was that China would become a capitalist democracy, and it was on its way there until President Xi Jinping took control of the country in 2012. [Xi] is a Marxist. When you are a Marxist, you believe capitalism will destroy itself,” Drury explained.

Drury, who also serves as an executive and assistant program director with the GlC, noted that the statistics surrounding China’s meteoric manufacturing expansion often evoke strong reactions when presented to audiences across the US.

“The solution for the United States in freeing itself from China’s manufacturing dominance is to find somewhere it can produce goods without depending on China. There is no such place on earth. China produces 30 percent of all manufactured goods,” he said.

The discussion also examined recent efforts by the US to reclaim manufacturing capacity and reverse trends Washington believes could compromise national security.

“The spoken goal of wanting to return manufacturing to the United States essentially means restoring enough production capacity to support national defence,” Drury explained. “The auto industry built the bombers and tanks during World War II. If you don’t have an auto industry, you don’t have an industry you can flip into national defence production.”

For The Bahamas, the geopolitical dynamics has become increasingly challenging to navigate with the latest example being the proposed specialty hospital project for which the Government of The Bahamas has secured Chinese financial backing. In response, the US, through its newly appointed ambassador, has publicly encouraged The Bahamas to reconsider the arrangement.

Laing, former Minister of Economic Affairs and a UB graduate, offered this contextual view: that The Bahamas understands the importance of maintaining strong relationships with both global powers.

“If we were going to have concerns about any country being overly influential in The Bahamas, it would be the United States of America. Why? Eighty-plus percent of our tourism comes from the United States. We have one of the only U.S. pre-clearance facilities in the world. There are substantial American investments in The Bahamas. Our currency is pegged to the United States. And if we ever needed help in this country, we have no doubt who we would turn to,” Laing said.

Laing noted that the influence of the United States extends beyond economics and geopolitics into the cultural and personal realms.

“We love to go to the United States. We go for education, healthcare, and socializing. But for practical reasons, we also nurture relationships with countries around the world. The Bahamas is not a war state.”

As competition between the two global giants intensifies, Laing offered this advice for policymakers navigating the geopolitical landscape.

“It will continue to be very competitive between these two giants, and if I were advising policymakers in The Bahamas, I would say: keep hugging your friends and shaking the hands of your associates.”