“The best is yet to come” – Premier

skills training.

“Turks and Caicos Islanders must be able to improve their knowledge and skills at all stages of their life.”

To this end, he noted that the government has achieved all commitments made in the People’s Contract, in the area of education, which includes free tuition at the Turks and Caicos Community College for all citizens.

He said that the government is providing more scholarships for students at all levels and aligning scholarships with labour market needs.

Safety And Security

Creating a safe and just society, remains a top priority of the government, in this regard, Misick explained that millions have been spent to upgrade the human, physical, technical, and investigative capacity of the Royal

TCI Police Force (RTCIPF).

He said: “We will not allow criminals whether local or foreign to put our people and economy at risk.

“We are making significant financial investments in border protection, internal security, and our justice system.

“We have enacted a suite of new legislation, are building new national security structures, and professionalising and expanding our local security forces.”

He added: “More officers have been placed on frontline duties, especially in communities that are challenged by drugs and gang violence.

“Members of the TCI Regiment have been deployed to assist with patrols and other duties.

“New CCTV camera systems are being installed across the islands, starting with the most vulnerable communities.

“A new Gangs, Drugs and Guns Unit has been established, supported by specialist detectives from the UK, they will work within our own force to help with the current challenges and build our local capacity and capability.

“Officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force seconded to the TCI, continue to make a big difference.

“We have enacted anti-gang and gun laws with harsher punishments for those who continue to spill the blood of innocent people.”

The new laws give the police the authority to investigate, stop and search, detain and break up gang activities.

Food Security And Health Care

Several initiatives have been rolled out over the last two years to support the Government’s plans to foster food security across the islands.

Premier Misick said: “My government takes the matter of food security very seriously.

“The pandemic and recent supply chain issues are a wake-up call, but the government has taken steps to encourage and improve food production across our islands.

“We provided farmers with grants to upgrade their farms and provided hurricane relief grants to farmers and remove all import duties on farm vehicles.

“Opened the first farmers market in the Turks and Caicos and established 16 school gardens.

On the healthcare front, Premier Misick stressed that efforts to ensure citizens have access to quality healthcare have been “relentless”.

He said: “The Ministry of Health continues to lead the fight, we ramped up vaccination to around 80% of the population and ensure that the country remains open.

“We improve the quality of diagnostic services with the acquisition of a state-of-the-art MRI machine and a CT scanner. “Dental care clinics have been upgraded, new dental equipment installed and additional dental surgeons hired.”

Coupled with this, the government has also opened the territory’s first mental health facility in Grand Turk.

He emphasised that this landmark achievement makes the Turks and Caicos more equipped to deal with mental health issues.

The territory’s leader assured residents that his government will continue to work diligently to create a society “where every child can thrive, achieve and believe in the TCI dream.”

“The Turks and Caicos story is still being written and the best is yet to come”, he added.