News
Shadow Minister of Health Addresses Pollution
Grand Turk, 16 Oct 2014 – Our islands are uniquely beautiful by nature. Therefore, the onus is on us to preserve it for future generations. Consider this: the average household produces one to two 19 gallon bags of rubbish in one week. Now consider the amount of rubbish that is produced on your street…then your district…then your island…then our country. Imagine most of that rubbish being scattered about your island. You may live on an island that has a schedule for garbage collection; where residents keep their properties and their surroundings tidy; and there are no uncaring persons polluting the environment with garbage and refuse. Then you can claim our slogan, “Beautiful by nature.”
As Shadow Minister for Health and the elected member for Grand Turk South and Salt Cay, I am hereby appealing to the residents on our islands to join me in my campaign to keep our islands clean. We can quantify the advantages of a clean community. The benefits run the gamut from an economic stand point to a healthy environment.
We rely on tourists who come to our shores. Do we want them to take one look and decide never to return? We can play our part by practicing healthy, cleanly habits. Let us adopt these two slogans and make them our mantras:
Put it in the can, man;
Keep our islands clean, green and pristine.
Litterers and dumpers are not welcomed in our beautiful by nature islands. Each resident can make a difference by adhering to practices that enhance our beauty rather than detract from it. We may not see road signs that warn of fines for littering, but that should not deter us from becoming civic minded, nonetheless.
“Out of all those hundreds and hundreds of islands lying in the seas and oceans of the earth, the Turks & Caicos are our islands. Grand Turk is my little one, so we just got to be aware of them and take care of them.” This is my personal creed.
I implore those among us who do not care about our islands and the environment to desist from destroying their beauty. We must all do our part, especially the Government, who I see as turning a blind eye to this situation of pollution within our islands.
On any given Cruise ship day on Grand Turk there are thousands persons on the streets, moving around, sightseeing, taking pictures, and visiting places of interest. What are they seeing and photographing? Should they see the garbage accumulating on a vacant lot opposite the old police station, near the Museum? Is this the image that the Minister of Tourism wishes to sell as the lasting image of Grand Turk? Is this what the Minister of Environment considers to be “Beautiful by Nature”? Is this how the Minister of Government Support Services lend support to the environment? And is this what the Minister of Health considers to be promoting a healthy life style? Does this Government really care about any of this? From my observations, it does not look so. I, along with other private citizens and groups, have been assisting in cleaning our island. However, we need the Government to do its part. My advice to the Government:
Provide adequate resources to the departments responsible for garbage collection and cleaning;
Promote caring for the environment;
Enforce laws for protecting our “Beautiful by Nature Country”, please.
End.
Hon Edwin Astwood
Shadow Minister of Health
MP for Grand Turk South and Salt Cay
The Bahamas, August 27, 2026 – The Royal Bahamas Police Force wishes to inform members of the public that several individuals are scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 27th August 2026, at 12:00 noon.
The individuals and charges are as follows:
An 18-year-old female is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
Three (3) counts of Murder
Three (3) counts of Attempted Murder
Three (3) counts of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life
Three (3) counts of Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm
Two (2) counts of Possession of Ammunition
Armed Robbery
Abetment to Armed Robbery
Stealing
Receiving
The charges stem from three separate shooting incidents and an armed robbery that occurred on Friday, 21st August 2026, and Saturday, 22nd August 2026.
The first shooting occurred in the area of Soldier Road and Baillou Hill Road, resulting in the death of a 51-year-old male.
The second shooting occurred in the area of Joe Farrington Road, resulting in the death of a 52-year-old male.
The third shooting occurred in the area of Gladstone Road, resulting in the death of a 36-year-old male.
The armed robbery occurred at a business establishment in the area of Carmichael Road and Baillou Hill Road.
A 21-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on one charge of:
- Murder
The charge stems from a shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, in the area of Samson Street, Nassau Village, which resulted in the death of a 28-year-old male.
A 32-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
- Murder
- Attempted Murder
These charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday, 24th December 2025, in the area of Graham Drive, Yellow Elder, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old male.
RBPF, PACD
by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — In a country where government press conferences are virtually non-existent, ministers are often difficult for
journalists to access and regular broadcast television news has disappeared, TCI Innovation, Technology and Energy Minister E. Jay Saunders has challenged Caribbean media to become “impossible to ignore.”
Speaking at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union gathering, Saunders argued that the Caribbean does not have a relevance problem but a “discoverability and positioning problem.”
Discoverability is precisely the issue in Saunders’ home country. Even Government’s own attempts at video news broadcasting have struggled against the realities of consistently producing a daily, weekly or even monthly newscast.
The difficulties confronting TCI media extend well beyond algorithms: limited advertising revenue, underfunding, shortages of trained professionals and insufficient human capacity leave newsrooms struggling for both staff and stamina.
Then there is the reality of operating in one of the region’s smallest societies. Politicians, journalists, advertisers, businesses and the subjects of stories often exist within the same tight economic and social circles. A controversial report that might create a ripple elsewhere can produce a tsunami in TCI, intensifying concerns among journalists about commercial and professional victimisation.
Saunders believes AI can help.
He urged Caribbean media to use the technology to transform one original story into television, radio, web, podcast, social and translated content without multiplying newsroom workload.
He also wants regional journalism structured so AI systems can find, understand and trust Caribbean sources, moving media beyond traditional SEO into Answer Engine Optimisation.
His ultimate message was emphatic: “Use AI not to make Caribbean media more artificial — but to make Caribbean voices more visible.”
For Turks and Caicos media, however, becoming visible may require more than technology. It requires an environment in which journalism can survive.
That last sentence is where I think we land the plane. It acknowledges that EJ actually has some us
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
