TCICC Provo Campus to Offer Nursing Courses as New West Campus Wing Is Dedicated

The Providenciales campus of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC) is set to begin offering nursing courses, expanding access to critical healthcare training on the island, according to Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture.

From left – Sheba Wilson, Chair of the TCICC Board of Governor; Claudette Clare, Co-owner of the building; Minister of Education Hon. Rachel Taylor; Member of Parliament for Leeward and Long Bay Hon. Akierra Missick; Bill Clare – Co-owner of the building; and Candice Williams – President of the TCICC, cut the ribbon to officially commission a new wing of the TCICC Provo Campus.

Minister Taylor made the announcement while addressing the official dedication and commissioning ceremony for a newly constructed wing of the TCICC West Campus in Providenciales on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. While she did not provide a specific timeline for the rollout, the minister noted that interest in the nursing programme has been increasing steadily on Providenciales, even as enrollment in the programme on Grand Turk has shown signs of decline.

The expanded space, she said, will allow the college to strengthen its nursing programme and better respond to workforce shortages in the health sector, which remains a national priority. Minister Taylor further revealed that discussions are ongoing with the University of the West Indies to elevate the nursing programme from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree offering.

A group photo of some of the attendees to the dedication of a new wing of the TCICC

The new wing, owned by local historian Bill Clare and his wife, educator Claudette Clare, was officially dedicated by Bishop Sherlock Padmore. The ceremony was attended by several government officials, educators, and community stakeholders, including TCICC President and CEO Candice Williams.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Williams described the expansion as a timely and necessary response to unprecedented growth at the institution. She disclosed that for the Fall 2025 semester, TCICC recorded a 32 percent increase in enrollment, a surge she attributed to renewed confidence in the college, the relevance of its programmes, and government-backed free tuition initiatives.

“This new wing is more than additional classroom space,” Dr. Williams said. “It is a declaration of momentum, resilience, and belief in the power of education to shape lives and build our nation.”

She emphasized that while the expansion is an interim measure, it is essential as the government advances plans to retrofit the former Alliance Business Center in Grace Bay into the future permanent home of TCICC. That project, she said, represents a bold next chapter for tertiary education in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

During the ceremony, heartfelt tributes were paid to the Clare family for their long-standing partnership with the college. Speaking on behalf of the family, Yeshica Robinson, daughter of Claudette Clare, described the building as the fulfillment of her mother’s lifelong vision to uplift students and serve the wider community through education.

Students from the Enid Capron Primary School performing at the event.

“I stand as a testament to my mom’s vision, perseverance, and lifelong commitment to education,” Robinson said. “This building represents sacrifice, determination, and a belief in the transformative power of learning.”

Minister Taylor echoed those sentiments, praising the Clares for investing not just in infrastructure, but in the potential and ambition of the nation’s people. She described the new wing as a milestone moment for tertiary education in the country and a model of effective collaboration between government, community partners, and educational institutions.

Delivering the vote of thanks, Claudette Clare noted she has been a longstanding pillar of education in the Turks and Caicos, telling the audience that educating the children of the Turks and Caicos Islands is something she holds dear to her heart. She also thanked the government for their ongoing partnership with the Clare Family.