Jamarr Malcolm from the A. Louise Garland Thomas High School has been elected President of the TCI National Student Council, while Conroy Whittaker, a student of Clement Howell High School, has been elected Vice President.
The election, held under the theme “Your Voice. Your Country. Your Future,” brought together students from 14 public and private high schools across the Turks and Caicos Islands. The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture in partnership with the Turks and Caicos Islands Elections Department to give students first-hand experience with the electoral process while creating a platform for them to raise issues affecting young people. Candidates were required to campaign, develop manifestos and present their priorities to student voters before the national electronic vote.
Minister of Education Rachel Taylor said the election provides young people with an opportunity to use their voices meaningfully while developing their leadership skills. The Elections Department says the initiative is also intended to strengthen civic awareness among young people by allowing students to experience democracy not just as voters, but as candidates and representatives. The remaining positions on the six-member National Student Council, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Public Relations Officer will be selected through an internal vote among the top candidates.
The newly elected student leaders will now have the responsibility of representing the interests and concerns of students at a national level.
