THE COUNTRY`s new Education Minister, Karen Evadney Malcolm said she is ‘committed and dedicated’ to ensuring that every child receives the best education and opportunities under her stewardship.
Honorable Malcolm who is also the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly was sworn- in on Tuesday (June 20th) by Governor John Freeman, upon commendation of the Premier.
Malcolm’s appointment came on the heels of the revocation of former Minister of Education Josephine Connolly after a fallout with the Premier over claims of insolence and falsehood.
Premier Sharlene Cartwright -Robinson at a press briefing at her office in Providenciales on Tuesday introduced the New Minister to the media and by extension the nation.
She said: “I’m delighted to introduce the newest member of our Cabinet, she defied all odds and successfully ran as an all-island candidate in the general election for the People`s Democratic Movement (PDM).
“She was elected Deputy Speaker shortly after, a former banker and assistant accountant at Building materials ,founder of the heart foundation and active member of the Soroptimist club and her church, she`s a wife , a mother and a grandmother.
“I am pleased to announce that she hails from the Island of Grand Turk and have resided in Providenciales for over 2 decades, Honorable Karen Evadney Malcolm is the new Minister for Education, Sports and Library Services and we have every confidence that she will make Turks and Caicos proud and will serve these islands well.”
Malcolm speaking to the nation for the first time in her new capacity said that she is grateful to God for the opportunity to serve her people.
She said: “I’m grateful to serve in the capacity as the Minister of Education, let me first say a special thank you to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands who elected me in the 15th of December, as their representative.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the students who took the GSAT examination last month and earlier this month, I would like to say congratulations, you did an exceptional job, congratulations also to the parents and teachers, because I know that without teachers the students would not have been as successful as they were.”
The new Education Minister pledged to leave no stone unturned to ensure that each child receives optimal edification in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
Informing the nation of her humble beginnings Malcolm said: “I am and will always be a Turks and Caicos Islander, I was born in Grand Turk, I migrated to the Bahamas where I received my education.
“I knew that I would return to these beautiful islands because God placed in my heart at an early age, the love and respect for my home country and today I can say that God had been faithful to his promise and it’s all because of his grace that I am here today and I so pleased that he has chosen me.
“This is my season and I ask the people of the Turks and Caicos to continue to support me continue to support our Ministers as we continue to do our best for each and everyone living here among us.”
Malcom is confident that her experience, passion and love for children and youths will enable her to address challenges within the Ministry from an informed viewpoint.
Chief among her achievements over the years is her role in getting the Ministry of Health to send twins with heart condition to the UK.
She is a past president of Soroptimist International of Providenciales.
One of her many significant roles is to assist and mentor two young girls from their adopted Government schools and provide hygienic items for them at the beginning of each term.
In addition, Malcom is the past president of Women Aglow Int’l Grand Turk Chapter.
She spends her free Saturdays, volunteering at the Providenciales library assisting children with reading.
