On Saturday June 1st, the Turks and Caicos Islands held a state recognized funeral for Terry Newton Smith a former civil servant within the TCI Government.
He graduated in June 1969 from the Helena Jones Robinson High School
and about a month later, he was temporarily employed at the Land & Survey Department and officially appointed to the Public Service as a Survey Assistant on March 1st, 1970.
In 1976, Terry was promoted to District Surveyor. Two years later, he was granted a scholarship to attend the College of Arts and Science and Technology (CAST) now known as the University of Technology, graduating in 1980 with Certificates in Land Surveying and Land Valuation. He also completed education in the UK at North East London Polytechnic further qualifying himself in his field. In 1986, Terry was once again promoted to Chief Surveyor. His life as a surveyor took him across various islands in the TCl.
In April 1990, he was appointed to be the second Director of Land Survey from TCI.
Terry furthered his education in 1999, obtaining a Diploma and Associate Membership with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
He served as PS in various ministries prior including: Environment & District Administration, Ofice of Public Service Management, Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Home Affairs.
He was subsequently appointed as Permanent Secretary for Natural Resources, Immigration and Labour. In 2004, he was appointed at the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs with responsibility for Prisons and later Disaster Management was added. A year later he was appointed as Acting Director of Disaster Management for 2005-2006.
Even after retiring, Terry could not resist the urge and passion to serve. He continued to rise to the occasion to serve his country in the capacity of Director of Ports Authority for several years and volunteering to assist Disaster Management, lending his expertise during the hurricane season periods.
We at Radio Turks and Caicos would like to wish his family our sincerest condolences, May his soul rest in peace.
