About us

Cadetting in the Turks and Caicos Islands owes its roots  to the Raymond Gardiner high School, North Caicos. In 2000 Decosta Grifiths a School teacher recruited from Jamaica began organizing young boys and girls into a club calling them the Raymond Gardiner High School Cadet Corps. The Corps promoted discipline, respect and leadership. Part of the vision of Mr. Grifiths includes taking the Raymond Gardiner Cadet Corps further afield. However, there were limitations, which prevented him from doing so.

In April 2006 Sergeant Ennis Grant at the time of the RTCIPF Personnel and Training Department submitted a proposal to Dr. Lillian Boyce, Minister of Education, and Youth Sports and Culture, giving a detail outline of the Cadet program.This proposal was based on the United Kingdom Army Cadet Force Model (UK ACF), currently being used throughout the Caribbean from as early as 1904. With the support and assistance of Ms. Donna Chapman former Head of Personnel and Training of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, negotiations into setting up of the Turks and Caicos Islands Cadet Corps began.

At the same time the program was being endorsed by Edward Hall, Commissioner of Police; Angela Forbes, Director of Youth and Mrs. Sonia Williams under Secretary in the Ministry of Education. Commissioner Hall overwhelmingly agreed to support and advanced the Cadet Program into a nationally organized body. Subsequently funding for this initiative in the amount One hundred and seventy thousand dollars ($170, 000) was approved by Executive Council. The funding was provided to procure uniforms and
training aids, and cover stipend.

On Tuesday May 2, 2006, under the direction of Sergeant Ennis Grant a mass recruitment was organized on the Grand Turk Parade Grounds, which led to one hundred and sixteen (116) youths from the Marjorie Basden High School enrolling into the Program. Contemporaneously, Raymond Gardiner Cadet Corps began re-energizing its momentum under Decosta Grifiths. Training in Grand Turk was organized and co-ordinated by Sgt Ennis Grant with the assistance of other Police Officers and civilian staff.

A total of two hundred and fifteen (250) pairs of uniforms was procured from a US based Company in June of 2006. With its new uniforms, the Turks and Caicos Islands Cadet Corps attended its first official Parade to Commemorate Her Majesty’s Queen Elizabeth the Second birthday on June 16, 2006 at the Grand Turk Parade Grounds. Some One hundred and twenty eight (128) Cadets attended this Parade along with ten (10) Cadet Instructors. There were three (3) platoons from Grand Turk and One from the Raymond Gardiner High School. With Former Commissioner of Police Mr. Paul Harvey as the Commandant.

On Friday September 8, 2006 the Providenciales Cadet Company (Bravo) was launched in a meeting attended by Hon Dr. Lillian Boyce, Deputy Commissioner of Police Hubert Hughes, Director of Youth Ms. Angela Forbes Ms. Donna Chapman, Inspector Hilton Duncan, Decosta Griffiths, Sergeant Ennis Grant Lloyd Feron, and Principal of the Clement Howell High School, parents and students. A total of one hundred and seventy six (176) youths enrolled in the program over the following weeks in Providenciales. Training in Providenciales was spear headed by Inspector Hilton Duncan assisted by Michael Jules.

The Providenciales Cadet Company attended its first official parade on Friday September 28, 2006 during activities to commemorate Education Week.S ubsequently, on September 18, 2007 the South Caicos Cadet Company was launched through an official ceremony attended by parents and teachers of the Clement Howell High School. Training in South Caicos was spear headed by Police Constable Nimrol Beckles. A total of thirty eight (38) youths enrolled in the program. The South Caicos Cadet Company
attended its first Official Parade during activities commemorate Remembrance Day 2007.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Cadet Corps was originally established in April, 2006. Unfortunately, the Corps became dormant in 2011 due to financial restraints. The cadet corps was reestablished in October 2014.Under the Motto “TO LEAD, TO INSPIRE, TO EXCEL”.

A ceremony was held to honour its official re-establishment on October 21 at the Police Canteen Grounds in Providenciales. A number of dignitaries were in attendance for the ceremony including Governor Peter Beckingham, Premier Rufus Ewing, Akierra Missick, Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Youth, Sport and Library Services, Deputy Governor Anya Williams, and Leader of the Opposition Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson. Other guests included representatives from the Education Department, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, Crimestoppers, various school principals, members of the Turks and Caicos Islands Cadet Corps and students of Clement Howell High School.