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Opening of Schools – MP Leeward and Long Bay – Akierra M D Missick

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#TurksandCaicos, September 27, 2017 – Providenciales – As the Former Minister of Education and Deputy Premier of the TCI, it is my profound belief that we must return our Children to school sooner rather than later.   Having had an opportunity to read the Minister of Education’s press release, like many parents I am concerned that there seems to be no contingency plan communicated to parents for the Country’s public school children.   We are greatly concerned that the schools damaged were not assessed and repairs quantified within the week after the passage of Hurricane Irma.

While we empathize with the Ministry of Education, we know the patience of our parents is waning, and even our teachers are ready to get back in to the classroom and to some semblance of normalcy as soon as possible.   We commend the teachers who attended to their campuses and commenced the clean-up process in their classrooms, and recorded the damage.

Special attention must be given to the 4th and 5th Form students across the Islands as the Caribbean Examination Council (“CXC”) has not (that we have seen) issued a notice that they will be suspending January exams in the wake of the storms which have affected many of the Countries that subscribe to the CXC and CVQ exams.

The US$4,000,000.00 that is budgeted for in this financial year from the previous PNP Administration’s successful grant from the European Development Fund 11 be renegotiated quickly, to be utilized to repair all primary schools in the TCI which were affected, and in some instances expand them where they can be expanded.   It would make very little economic sense to now construct a fourth primary school when there are 10 in serious disarray.

Suspend the Grade Six Achievement Test for all Grade 6 students, as it will not capture a true assessment of student success in transitioning to high school in the upcoming academic year.   Hurricane Irma and Maria were traumatic experiences and with delays of having students return to school there will be deficiencies in their learning found. Having students repeat Grade 6 because they do not pass the GSAT in this academic year will only compound matters and student placement numbers for the next two academic schools years.   Grade 6 teachers should be provided with another mechanism to assess their students’ transition to high-school for the 2018/2019 academic school year.

Assessments of all Teachers’ homes must be done.   Especially those Teachers who may have suffered severe lost or are displaced be housed quickly, as it would be difficult to ask they provide services to our children when they themselves are displaced.

Work closely with Food for Thought Charity, as many students may face nutrition deficiencies when they return to school, and provide assistance to Food For Thought to bring in food items at a no duty rate.

We are committed to working with the Ministry of Education to ensure our youngest citizens have a chance to return to their schooling as soon as possible, as institutions are safe places where they can grow, learn and explore.

 

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Bahamas News

Afreximbank Annual Meetings Return Next Month; Caribbean Links Remain in Focus

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May 29, 2026 – Two years after The Bahamas made history as the first Caribbean nation to host the African Export-Import Bank’s Annual Meetings, thousands of delegates are expected to gather in Egypt next month for AAM2026.

The 33rd Afreximbank Annual Meetings will be held from June 21-24 in El Alamein, Egypt, under the theme: “Intra-African Trade and Industrialisation: Pathway to Economic Sovereignty.”

The event is regarded as one of Africa’s most important gatherings on trade, investment, finance and economic development, bringing together heads of state, policymakers, business leaders, development finance institutions and international partners.

For Caribbean nations, the meetings hold special significance.

In 2024, The Bahamas welcomed thousands of delegates to Nassau for the landmark event, marking the first time the annual meetings were staged outside the African continent and placing the Caribbean at the center of growing discussions on Africa-Caribbean trade and investment.

Since then, Afreximbank has continued to expand its engagement in the region, promoting stronger commercial ties between Africa and Caribbean countries and exploring opportunities in trade finance, infrastructure development, logistics, investment and private sector growth.

Organizers say this year’s discussions will focus on strengthening intra-African trade, advancing industrialization, building regional value chains and increasing economic resilience amid global uncertainty.

The meetings are also expected to provide a platform for new partnerships, investment opportunities and development initiatives that could have implications beyond Africa, including for Caribbean nations seeking to deepen economic cooperation with the continent.

As leaders prepare to convene in Egypt, the Caribbean’s growing relationship with Afreximbank remains a key part of the institution’s broader vision of expanding trade and investment connections across the Global South.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Multi-Agency Operation Conducted to Serve Notices of Illegal Occupation in Blue Hills

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Friday, 29 May 2026The Crown Land Unit (CLU), in coordination with the Informal Settlements Unit (ISU) and key partner agencies, conducted a multi-agency enforcement operation on Thursday, 21 May 2026, in sections of the Blue Hills and Stammers Run areas of Providenciales. The exercise focused on the serving of Section 22 Notices and Letters of Illegal Occupation on parcels where unauthorised occupation and development activity were identified.

The operation was led by the Crown Land Unit, with coordination and support provided by the ISU. Additional support was provided by the TCI Border Force, while security for the exercise was provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. All agencies worked collaboratively to ensure the operation was carried out in a safe, orderly, and controlled manner.

The exercise was conducted pursuant to the mandate of the Crown Land Unit under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown Land. During inspections conducted across multiple parcels within Block 60502, several unauthorised structures constructed of concrete and timber were identified. Occupied structures were served with Letters of Illegal Occupation, while Notices of Illegal Occupation were affixed to unoccupied structures or served where appropriate.

In total, fourteen (14) Letters of Illegal Occupation and thirteen (13) Notices of Illegal Occupation were served during the operation. Notices and letters were either delivered directly to occupants or posted on structures in instances where occupants or the persons responsible for the construction were absent.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government wishes to emphasise that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown Land constitute breaches of the Crown Land Ordinance and undermine lawful land administration and planning processes.

The Government remains committed to protecting Crown land, preventing unlawful occupation, and supporting safe, orderly, and sustainable development across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Multi-agency operations such as these form part of ongoing efforts to uphold the rule of law while advancing broader objectives related to land management, public safety, and community development.

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Bahamas News

UN Reports Ebola Outbreak Expands in DRC; Bahamas Monitors Two Recent Arrivals

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The Bahamas, May 29, 2026 – The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to expand, with United Nations officials now warning that the disease has spread across multiple eastern provinces and become the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of May 26 the outbreak had reached 13 health zones in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. More than 1,000 suspected cases have been reported, including 121 confirmed infections and 17 deaths. Six healthcare workers are among those who have died.

The United Nations says humanitarian teams remain actively engaged in treatment, surveillance, community outreach and disease containment efforts. However, the response is being complicated by insecurity, population movement and restrictions affecting the delivery of supplies and personnel.

While the outbreak remains confined to Africa, authorities in The Bahamas recently activated emergency health protocols after two men who had spent time in the Democratic Republic of the Congo arrived at Lynden Pindling International Airport aboard a British Airways flight.

The Ministry of Health confirmed the travelers were isolated after presenting low-grade fevers upon arrival on May 22. Officials later reported that the fevers subsided and neither individual displayed symptoms consistent with Ebola Virus Disease.

The two men, identified as a British national residing in Australia and a French national, were transferred to the Modular Unit at Princess Margaret Hospital for continued monitoring.

Health officials emphasized that there are currently no confirmed Ebola cases in The Bahamas and assessed the risk to the public as low.

Still, the growing outbreak overseas has prompted increased vigilance. Health Minister Dr. Michael Darville said the government is reviewing whether additional travel measures may be necessary for countries affected by the outbreak.

The United Nations this week announced up to US$60 million in emergency funding to support the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries, warning that rapid action remains critical to preventing further spread.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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