News

TCIG – Premier`s Ministerial Statement at the 8th Sitting of House of Assembly

Published

13 years ago

September 12, 2013

Mr. Speaker, members of this Honorable House, my fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, a pleasant good morning. I would like to thank my almighty God for his goodness and mercies and the strength to carry on, for he is my light and my salvation.
I wish to take this opportunity to extend birthday wishes to both the Hon. Leader of the Opposition and the Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I woke up this morning with a heart burdened with questions as to whether or not I should carry on. Mr. Speaker, as per the usual, I asked my Lord for strength, guidance, wisdom and determination, and because of those I am here standing before you in this honorable House this morning.

Mr. Speaker, the past few weeks of duty in the Office of Premier of this country have been a reality check. You see Mr. Speaker, I was taught all my life to be honest, to be law abiding, to play by the rules as these are the best of policies to which one should adhere to safely see oneself through life. Mr. Speaker, to some extent these guiding principles are true, but in the current socioeconomic and political context of our beloved Turks and Caicos Islands, these qualities do indeed at times appear to be pointless and are the constant root causes of frustration as the rules are not in our favor. Mr. Speaker the rules that I am referring to are the constitutional rules of this country which give the Governor the uncensored power to do whatsoever he pleases. Mr. Speaker, if these powers were consistently used in the interest of Turks and Caicos Islanders to better their lives we may not have a problem. The difficulty, Mr. Speaker, is if government plays by these current rules, it would be to our detriment as we would not be serving the best interest of our people. What is unfair is, if Turks and Caicos Islanders attempted to challenge the status quo, it would also be to their detriment, so essentially we can`t win for losing. However Mr. Speaker I am a fighter. I am a leader and if I am going to die I would prefer to die trying and challenging the status quo.

Mr. Speaker, we came to government, elected by the people to improve their lives and well-being, not just economically and socially but also, more importantly, to improve their lives democratically. Mr. Speaker, the people of these islands elected us to make decisions in their best interest, to represent them, but the government of the people is having some of the most difficult times, being bound by chains and whipped when we try to break free in the interest of the people.

Mr. Speaker, the economy of the Turks and Caicos Islands has shown many positive signs of growth, as evidenced by our GDP which has grown by 3.4%, there are also major investments such as the Shore Club and the West Caicos development that were stalled and are now well on their way towards initiating activity. Very soon other developments like Dellis and Ambergris Cay will come along, and with new interested investors engaged, I am very optimistic that this economy will rebound completely. However, Mr. Speaker this growth must be to the betterment of the lives of our people who must be able to capitalize on the opportunities that would be presented to them. Mr. Speaker, the only way we can guarantee this in an environment of unfair competition is by strengthening our Belonger preference policies as we grow and diversify our economy and as we streamline and make more efficient, our business and labour policies.

Mr. Speaker, we are about leveling the playing field not making it uneven. Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell my Turks and Caicos Islanders that we are mandated to empower them through protection of reserved categories of business and capital and investment facilitation and that we shall do. I can let the EU know now, that if the EDF grant of 15 million which is intended to improve and streamline business practices, has as its goal the
removal of Belonger reserve categories as a trade off, then they can keep their money as this will not happen under my watch at this time in our current economic state.

Mr. Speaker, Tourism is our main industry and it has served us and continues to serve us well even during to downturn in the economy. However, we are vulnerable to economic shocks and unless we diversify our economy we would always remain vulnerable and at high risk of not being able to withstand economic downturns. Mr. Speaker that is why we have begun the process of facilitating other industries, such a manufacturing and processing, and identifying trading partners for the importation of raw materials to serve these industries.

Mr. Speaker our neighbours of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, the Bahamas and other Caricom countries in close proximity may serve well as trading partners and allies, so too do other first world countries like the US and Canada. Mr. Speaker the diversification of our economies into the manufacturing and processing industry will, in addition to boosting the economy, create jobs and promote Turks and Caicos internationally with goods labeled ” Made in the Turks and Caicos”, these results all having an overall impact of lowering the cost of goods and cost of living.

Mr. Speaker, we are continuing to venture internationally to promote these islands to investors in an effort to encourage more new investments and major infrastructural developments. Mr. Speaker on September 22nd, I will be one of the key note speakers at the KPMG Miami Infrastructure conference where I will be presenting three key major infrastructure investment opportunities, namely the Phase 2 Providenciales Airport expansion with new international arrival and departure areas, the East Caicos Mega Port and Resort Facility and the Caicos Causeway. These projects we see as life changing projects for these islands that will bring economic prosperity and sustainability and diversify our bread basket.

Mr. Speaker, as a government, in addition to expanding this economy and providing jobs, a task that we are feverishly doing, we are also obligated to providing educational opportunities and adequate an educational environment for our people. Therefore Mr. Speaker, I would love to take this opportunity to welcome all of the school children back to school and congratulate them on their achievements that brought them to this level in their educational endeavours. Likewise, I would like to congratulate and thank those deserving parents, and teachers, for their hard work and support of all of those students whose academic achievements were outstanding. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the Ministry of Education and the Education Department for the provision of scholarships and educational opportunities for our students. Mr. Speaker, there were also a number of organizations such and the Seventh Day Adventist Church, The Baptist Union, The Rock of Jesus Ministries and others who made provisions for school supplies, scholarships and financial support, I thank these organizations and individuals and encourage them to continue to give back to their community as we raise this nation.

Mr. Speaker, the return to school in terms of readiness has been challenging and we as a government stepped up to the plate to address those challenges and for this I thank my Minister of Education and her team, however, there were challenges that we were unable to solve but not for lack of trying. Mr. Speaker, the matter of the over-crowding of the Clement Howell High School is still of grave concern for our government. We have tried to secure both capital and recurrent expenditure funding so as to split the Clement Howell High School as a short term measure to relieve the over-crowding, whilst we prepare for the building of a new high school facility in the medium to long term. But Mr. Speaker this did not come to fruition.

Mr. Speaker the British Government`s focus is on using our surplus to pay down loans whilst our people suffer and are deprived of educational opportunities. Mr. Speaker, as a Government we are motivated to find solutions to our financial challenges to meet the basic needs of our people. But whilst we are forced to raise taxes to meet loan obligations and provide educational and social services for our people, the British government continues to drain our purse with unchecked expenditure being incurred by the Civil Recovery Team and SIPT. Mr. Speaker, this situation is unbearable and just unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, I am hereby holding the AG and the Governor accountable for these actions and am calling on them to give account and justification for funds that we could be using on our children, sending them to school in proper and healthy environment. And Mr. Speaker whilst on the topic of health, likewise the hospitals which are another possible source of concealed internal hemorrhage, will be put in check, also providing funds that can be used more effectively either in healthcare or elsewhere. Mr. Speaker, our Cabinet yesterday had a presentation of the Interim Hospital Audit and an action plan has been devised to address the issues being highlighted in the interim audit. This healthcare situation will be fixed.

Mr. Speaker, I have made public my dissatisfaction with the recent actions by the outgoing Governor to make a strategic re-appointment of the Attorney General despite the objection of myself, my government, the Leader of the Opposition and the People of the Turks and Caicos Islands. I have taken the liberty of outlining my reasons for my stance on this issue and I am asking all Members of the House of Assembly to join together with one voice on this issue.

Mr. Speaker and Members of this Honorable House, may God continue to bless you and bless these Turks and Caicos Islands. I thank you.

Africa

Bahamas’ Ghana Teacher Plan Draws Fire as Both Nations Face Shortages

Published

11 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

NASSAU, Bahamas (July 14, 2026) — The Bahamas Government says it needs the 300 teachers being sourced from Ghana to help close a critical staffing gap, even as criticism mounts over unresolved employment matters reportedly affecting approximately 2,000 Bahamas Union of Teachers members and as Ghana itself struggles with a massive shortage in the profession.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Science and Technology Chester Cooper said the shortage has been worsened by retirements, expiring contracts and the expansion of specialized subjects, including special education, technology, financial literacy, digital literacy and entrepreneurship.

Cooper said the Government has established a multi-agency task force and is attempting to attract recently retired teachers, new graduates and educators who previously left the profession.

“In keeping with government policy, Bahamians will be given first priority to fill all vacancies,” Cooper said.

However, the optics surrounding the decision are sketchy at best, with the BUT pressing the Government to settle long-standing matters affecting its members while Ghana grapples with a teacher shortage estimated at no fewer than 50,000 educators.

Ghana’s Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, recently disclosed that the country needs between 50,000 and 90,000 additional teachers to adequately staff its schools.

UNICEF’s 2026 Teachers for All: Ghana report confirms that Ghana is not only experiencing an overall teacher shortage but also serious inequalities in how available teachers are distributed. It found that rural and underserved schools are particularly affected, while Ghana’s primary teacher workforce fell by more than 25 percent—from 131,094 in 2019–2020 to 93,818 in 2022–2023—as student enrolment increased.

The report stated:

“Not only is there a teacher shortage in Ghana, but inefficiencies also exist in the current distribution of available teachers.”

That finding raises questions about why a country with such a significant domestic deficit is prepared to facilitate the overseas recruitment of hundreds of educators.

Meanwhile, BUT President Belinda Wilson has argued that the Bahamian Government has substantial unfinished business with the teachers already serving in the public system.

According to Wilson, approximately 2,000 educators are awaiting the conclusion of salary negotiations, while hundreds reportedly have unresolved matters involving confirmations, salary reassessments, promotions, rental allowances, examination marking fees, disturbance allowances, hardship payments and coaching allowances.

The union has also complained that it was not properly consulted before the proposed recruitment became public and has demanded details about the qualifications, subjects, deployment locations and employment conditions being considered for the Ghanaian teachers.

The debate is also unfolding as the University of The Bahamas has produced approximately 219 education graduates over the past three years—76 in 2024, more than 60 in 2025 and 73 in 2026.

Cooper maintains that overseas recruitment is intended only to fill positions that cannot immediately be occupied by qualified Bahamians.

“For decades, we have benefitted from strategic international recruitment of educators from partner nations,” he said. “We emphasize that such recruitment is intended only to address vacancies that cannot be immediately filled by qualified Bahamians.”

Still, the questions remain: why are outstanding matters affecting thousands of Bahamian teachers unresolved, and why is The Bahamas sourcing educators from a country that acknowledges it is tens of thousands of teachers short itself?

News

PDM Alleges Governor ‘Bias’, Opposes One-Year Extension

Published

12 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) Leader Douglas Parnell is urging the United Kingdom not to extend Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam’s tenure, alleging that a pattern of decisions and omissions has demonstrated “bias” in the exercise of her constitutional responsibilities.

Speaking during a nationally streamed address from PDM Headquarters on Friday evening, Parnell said his party’s National Executive Committee had carefully reviewed the Governor’s performance and concluded that she should leave office when her current term expires.

“We believe she should depart the Turks and Caicos Islands and not be given an extension,” Parnell declared. “The Governor must not be extended for another year.”

The Governor was appointed on June 29, 2023, to a four-year term. Parnell claimed that during the June 25 sitting of the House of Assembly, Government members confirmed to the Leader of the Opposition that efforts were underway to secure a one-year extension.

Parnell outlined what he described as six reasons for opposing any renewal of the Governor’s appointment.

Foremost among them, he said, was her refusal to commission an independent review of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force promotion process after such a request was made by the Opposition.

He also criticized what he described as delays in making constitutional appointments, citing the appointment of Dudley Been to the Integrity Commission.

“His appointment was held up for over six months,” Parnell alleged, arguing that constitutional appointments should be made in a timely manner.

The Opposition Leader further accused the Governor of neglecting the Office of the Governor in Grand Turk, saying she spends only “a small fraction” of her time there. He suggested that if the United Kingdom no longer intends to occupy Waterloo, the historic waterfront property should be transferred to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government for redevelopment, either as an official Premier’s Office and residence or as a beachfront hotel investment for Islanders.

Parnell also criticized the absence of a Boundaries Commission following the General Election, saying one should already have been established given the prospect of constitutional changes.

He further argued that constitutional discussions with UK Minister Stephen Doughty should have included the Leader of the Opposition.

“That failure demonstrates bias,” Parnell said, adding that he was also concerned by what he described as the selective leaking of sensitive information that, in his view, could only have originated from the Governor’s Office, the Premier’s Office or the Civil Service.

The Governor has not publicly responded to the allegations made by Parnell during his address.

News

Government Takes Case to Washington After U.S. Keeps TCI at Level 2

Published

13 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — The Turks and Caicos Islands is taking its case for an improved United States travel advisory all the way to Washington, enlisting the British Embassy as the Government argues that the destination’s dramatic reduction in violent crime deserves greater recognition.

The objective is clear: convince the United States that current security conditions justify moving the Turks and Caicos Islands from Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution to the more favourable Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions.

Acting Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams confirmed that the Governor’s Office is “working with the British Embassy in Washington to ensure that the internal security situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands is accurately represented in U.S. travel advisories.”

That carefully worded statement signals that the matter has moved beyond local reassurance and into diplomatic channels. The Government is effectively taking its evidence to Washington after the latest State Department review maintained Level 2 because of crime, particularly in Providenciales, and cited potentially limited police resources for investigations.

Premier Charles Washington Misick says the statistics demonstrate meaningful progress. Murders are reportedly down 40 percent, while serious sexual offences have fallen 33 percent year over year. He also pointed to increased investment in border security, intelligence-led policing, crime prevention and law enforcement.

Tourism Minister Zhavargo Jolly added that the territory welcomed 203,587 stayover visitors during the first quarter, more than 10,500 above the corresponding 2025 period, with March alone approaching 80,000 arrivals.

The combined argument is unmistakable: crime is falling, visitor numbers are rising and hundreds of thousands continue to enjoy the destination safely—so why has the rating not improved?

This is also not the first time TCI has challenged an American assessment.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, then Health Minister Erwin “Jay” Saunders publicly objected after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lowered TCI only from Level 4 to Level 3. Calling the assessment disproportionate and potentially arbitrary, Saunders said he would contact the CDC directly and demand clarity about the criteria being used.

TCI was subsequently classified by the CDC at Level 1 — Low Risk, with the territory promoting its strong vaccination programme, low positivity rate and stringent visitor protocols.

That history will likely encourage the Government as it begins this latest fight—tongue firmly in cheek—with Washington.

This time, however, the issue is not a temporary health emergency. It is the international safety reputation of a tourism-dependent country. The Government hopes its falling crime figures, strong visitor performance and diplomatic engagement through the United Kingdom will persuade U.S. authorities that Turks and Caicos has earned a better rating.