Tuesday 25th August, 2026 – PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands
— As the Turks and Caicos Islands prepares to mark 50 years of ministerial government, Bishop Bryant Cox of Rock of Jesus Ministry in Five Ceys, Providenciales, used a recent gathering to publicly recognize the contributions of former Deputy Chief Minister and Acting Chief Minister, the Hon. Samuel Harvey.
Bishop Cox’s remarks served as a reminder of the importance of recognizing the country’s pioneers while they are still alive to receive their flowers.
Speaking to those gathered, Bishop Cox reflected on the development of the Turks and Caicos Islands since the formation of its first ministerial government under the late Hon. JAGS McCartney, noting that the country’s progress was not achieved by any single administration or generation.
Among those he specifically highlighted was Hon. Samuel Harvey.
Bishop Cox invited Harvey to stand before the congregation and urged those present to recognize his contribution to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“Too often we let greatness go by,” Bishop Cox said, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging living legends and appreciating the work of those who helped pave the way for future generations.
He described Harvey as a “giant” who played a pivotal role in the country’s political and developmental history.
According to Bishop Cox, Harvey’s contribution extended beyond politics and included important work in the telecommunications sector. He specifically credited Harvey with playing a role in the development of cable television and other telecommunications-related infrastructure in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Bishop Cox reminded the audience that the modern communication technology many people now take for granted did not simply appear overnight.
“They got their phone and they seeing pictures on their phone, and so that’s how they think the world existed,” he said, before recalling an earlier era when telecommunications development involved physical infrastructure, including wires, antennas and satellites.
He credited Harvey as being among those involved in the early development of that work.
The tribute also placed Harvey’s contribution within the broader history of political development in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Bishop Cox noted that while current administrations naturally receive recognition for governing the country, the progress enjoyed today was built upon the efforts of leaders who came before them.
He referenced the late Hon. JAGS McCartney, former leaders including O.O. Skippings, and Hon. Samuel Harvey among those who helped shape the country’s political journey.
“It took a lot of people,” Bishop Cox said, stressing that the development of the Turks and Caicos Islands was the result of the contributions of multiple generations.
For Bishop Cox, the moment was not simply about honoring Harvey’s political career. It was about encouraging a culture of remembrance and appreciation.
He argued that people do not have to agree with or personally like someone to recognize the positive contribution that person made to society.
“Appreciate the road that they paved for you,” he urged.
Bishop Cox concluded his tribute by thanking Hon. Samuel Harvey for the work he had done and expressing his hope that his legacy would continue to live on.
The recognition comes at a significant moment for the Turks and Caicos Islands, as the country reflects on five decades of ministerial government and the generations of leaders who contributed to its development.
For many younger residents, modern telecommunications, mobile phones, internet access and digital communication are simply part of everyday life. Bishop Cox’s tribute, however, offered a reminder that the infrastructure and systems that support modern communication have a history—and that people such as Samuel Harvey were part of that earlier chapter.
The message from the pulpit was therefore larger than a single tribute: remember the people who helped build the foundation before celebrating everything that stands on it today.
As Turks and Caicos continues to look toward the future, Bishop Cox’s recognition of Hon. Samuel Harvey provides an opportunity for the country to revisit its own history and give its pioneers their flowers while they are still here to receive them.
