Mrs Gloria Lucille Hamilton-Lightbourne, a distinguished Turks and Caicos Islander, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), in His Majesty the King’s 2026 New Year Honours List, in recognition of her outstanding and sustained service to health services and cancer screening advocacy in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Mrs Hamilton-Lightbourne, who has dedicated nearly two decades to voluntary and charitable service, is widely recognised as the founder of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ first National Cancer Society, established in 2004.

Through tireless advocacy, community education and fundraising, she played a pivotal role in introducing the country’s first mammography service, significantly transforming breast cancer screening and early detection across the Islands.

Her work has had a profound and lasting impact on public health outcomes, helping to save the lives of hundreds of individuals through earlier diagnosis and improved access to care.

Beyond clinical screening, Mrs Hamilton-Lightbourne championed a holistic approach to cancer support, ensuring that patients and families received pastoral care, emotional support and guidance throughout their treatment journey.

Over the years, her leadership has helped build a strong and sustainable culture of health awareness and community engagement. Her early fundraising initiatives financed the Islands’ first screening equipment, while later efforts expanded to nationally recognised events, which continue to support cancer services today.

Her advocacy has also inspired the creation of other health-focused non-governmental organisations, strengthening the wider health support sector in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

In response to the honour, Mrs Hamilton-Lightbourne said: “I am deeply humbled and grateful for this recognition. Everything I have done has come from the heart and from a desire to help others during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. I never set out seeking recognition, and I would have continued this work regardless. My hope is that this honour inspires younger generations to serve their communities selflessly not because of reward or recognition but because kindness, compassion and service truly make a difference to those in need.”

Her Excellency the Governor, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam paid tribute to Mrs Hamilton-Lightbourne’s remarkable contribution in a statement this week: “Mrs Gloria Hamilton-Lightbourne’s legacy is one of compassion, resilience and extraordinary service. Through her vision and determination, she transformed personal adversity into national progress, fundamentally changing how cancer awareness, screening and support are approached in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

She said the honour reflects not only her lifelong commitment to public service but the profound and enduring impact of her work on countless lives across our Islands.