National Youth Day in Turks And Caicos Islands
National Youth Day is a holiday that’s observed in Turks and Caicos on the last Friday in September. It’s a holiday that celebrates and focuses on the youth of the islands and their future. This is a holiday that’s observed all across the holidays and is a day off for most people.
Turks and Caicos Islands (Public holiday) It’s also a day when public schools, government offices, and most businesses are closed. Some of the celebrations that can be anticipated on this holiday include float parades, speeches from the Minister of Education, Youth and Library Services, poetry recitals, go-cart races, and traditional games. It’s a day to honor and celebrate the youth of the country.
The History Of National Youth Day In Turks And Caicos
Turks and Caicos Islands is an archipelago that’s located in the Atlantic Ocean, just southeast of the Bahamas and just north of Hispaniola. It was originally occupied by the Lucayan and Taino peoples, who were a part of Arawkan-speaking indigenous groups located in the Caribbean.
They lived on the island peacefully for hundreds of years before the arrival of European settlers. Although Christopher Columbus sighted the islands in 1492, the islands wouldn’t officially be visited by European powers until the 17th century. This is when British colonizers began to settle on the islands.
Between the 18th and 19th centuries, the islands would go through various periods of British control and administration. They were originally part of the British Bahamas colony, but would later be placed under the control of the Jamaican colony. Turks and Caicos would become a separate crown colony in 1962, and as such, would remain under British control.
The islands eventually made progress towards self-government and in 1976, the first constitution of the country was adopted. Although we’re unsure of the exact history behind Turks and Caicos’ National Youth Day, it most likely got its inspiration from International Youth Day.
The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Resolution 2037 (XX) that endorsed the Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect, and Understanding between all Peoples.
This would create an atmosphere of development, participation, and peace in the field of youth and inevitably set the stage for International Youth Day — a holiday that was proclaimed in August 2010 when the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 64/134.
Observing National Youth Day In Turks And Caicos
As we alluded to in our opening paragraph, this holiday is observed in a number of ways by the people of Turks and Caicos. The day usually kicks off with a church service, and then there are official ceremonies, fairs, and other activities that are focused on the country’s youth. National Youth Day also features a parade to conclude festivities.
Turks and Caicos Islands (Public holiday) 
