News
Turks & Caicos Represented At UKOTs Environmental Ministers Meeting In Isle of Man
#IsleofMan, February 15, 2018 – Hon. Ralph Higgs, Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Maritime & Gaming, returned to the territory this weekend, after attending UKOTs and Crown Dependencies meeting of Environment Ministers, held in the Isle of Man to discuss the future of the environment in their jurisdictions. This meeting marked the third such annual meeting of the group, which provides a forum for Ministers to dialogue on issues of commonality among them, whilst seeking solutions, best practices and forging stronger partnerships.
This was the third Council of Environment Ministers of UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies and took place in Douglas, Isle of Man, the meeting was hosted jointly by Geoffrey Boot MHK, the Isle of Man’s Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, and Professor John Cortés, Gibraltar’s Minister for Education, Heritage, Environment, Energy and Climate Change and coordinated by the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF), a non-governmental organization.
The Minister was accompanied by Michelle Fulford Gardiner, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, where they join 13 other UKOTs and CDs, to discuss and focus on the topics of sustainability in the terrestrial and marine environment, climate change, the impact of natural disasters on communities, environmental resilience and the Isle of Man’s designation as the first entire nation UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Discussions were also facilitated on common opportunities and challenges specific to the group such as:
- Project Funding;
- Developmental pressures Vs. Environmental protection;
- International Conventions representation at COP
- Trade with the EU (post Brexit) withdrawal of the UK from the European Union
- Energy Efficiency
- Enforcement of illegal poaching
- Impact of plastics
Minister Boot of the Isle of Man, said; “Although very different in character, our islands all boast beautiful environments that are important to our economies and our way of life and we wish to retain and maximize the benefit.”
“The meeting was an excellent opportunity to share good practice and discuss common concerns and we learned a lot that we can put into effect in our islands. It was especially useful to discuss with the UK’s Environment Minister, Dr Thérèse Coffey, how our jurisdictions can work together, and more closely with the UK, to ensure a coherent approach on matters such a plastic waste, ocean acidification and warming. Minister Coffey invited the group to join the UK’s discussions on these matters.”
Professor Cortes of Gibraltar added; “The way our diverse territories work together in mutual support and for the protection and improvement of the environment and quality of life is our main strength and an example to others.”
“We are looking at a sustainable future within our territories but have also recognized our responsibility beyond our shores. Most of us are islands and so we are also championing the future of our oceans by joining the stand against plastic pollution and working towards improvement of the biological status of the many kilometers of sea that are the responsibility of the United Kingdom.”
Hon. David Osborne, Montserrat’s Minister for Agriculture, Trade, Lands, Housing and Environment, said; “By working as a group, we are much stronger in being able to achieve certain goals. Many of us are facing similar problems and, because of Brexit, much uncertainty remains. However, if we come together we can put forward ideas for ways to overcome these challenges, much can be achieved.”
Dr Mike Pienkowski, Chairman of UKOTCF, commented; “We have for over 30 years brought together groups of practitioners, decision makers and civil society across the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to share experiences and encouraged collective endeavour. This is now more relevant than ever, given the unique set of challenges faced by them especially in the face of climate change and some of the consequences of the UK’s departure from the European Union. The meeting heard about the work of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture to meet its international commitments and to support its fishing communities, which is huge interest to other jurisdictions.”
Ministers and representatives of the Falkland Islands, Pitcairn and St Helena, joined the meeting via Skype or other remote means.
UK Minister of Environment extended an invitation to the group to join her and her team to the Commonwealth Summit in April, as well as the celebration of the International Year of the Reef activities this year, where discussions can continue on these topics.
Hon. Higgs and Deputy Permanent Secretary, took advantage of the opportunity to also arrange meetings with Maritime & Ship Registry sector officials, and a site visit to the state of the art energy form waste plant.
Hon. Ralph Higgs quantified the meeting as a worthy assembly of like-minded decision makers with a diversity in social, economic, and political structures, but similar challenges. The Turks & Caicos Islands in the wake of two catastrophic storms realized some destruction of our natural environment, but saw firsthand how the resilience of healthy ecosystems such as the coral reef provides a service that went a long way in protecting our fragile islands. He reaffirm his government’s commitment to providing sustainable financing for conservation and climate change initiatives, as our environment lies at the foundation of our tourism industry.
Press Release: TCIG
Photo credit: David Kneale
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort recently collaborated with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and the Department of Social Services to support a youth camp hosted at the Oseta Jolly Primary School, underscoring the resort’s ongoing commitment to youth development in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The camp, which brought together security forces, government agencies and private sector entities, focused on equipping young participants
with practical life skills and character-building tools. A team from Beaches Turks and Caicos’ leadership and training departments joined the programme to deliver sessions on basic table etiquette, dining mannerisms, polite demeanour and public speaking fundamentals, all designed to help the students present themselves confidently in formal and professional settings.
General Manager of Beaches Turks and Caicos, Deryk Meany, said the resort views national development as an integral part of its corporate social responsibility. “We are always happy to be supporters in the development of the youth of the Turks and Caicos Islands. We continue to commit our team to help in creating the next generation of leaders who will provide support to the islands and help in its development,” Meany noted.
The initiative also received strong endorsement from the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Community Development, which has been championing holistic programmes aimed at building well-rounded young citizens. Minister Rachel Taylor highlighted the importance of collaborations like the camp in helping youth access structured guidance and mentorship. “We are happy to join in celebrating the growth and development of our youth here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Beaches Turks and Caicos continues to be one of our primary supporters in helping to develop well rounded individuals. This commitment from this resort has grown with the vision of the youth ministry to help in their overall development,” she said.
Taylor further emphasized that the camp’s timing was especially significant, coming as youth across the islands seek positive outlets and
constructive engagement. “This camp came at the most ideal time for our adolescents. With the support of our governor, the security forces, the social services along with Beaches Turks and Caicos, we are confident that the training needed for them to improve is on the right track,” she added.
Beaches Turks and Caicos Public Relations Manager, Orville Morgan, described the collaboration as an exemplary model of cross-sector partnership. “To be able to join with the security forces to provide support for the youth of the Turks and Caicos Islands is exceptional. We are happy to provide the necessary support to equip them to grow into being productive citizens of these islands,” Morgan said.
He noted that the resort team focused on practical etiquette and hospitality-driven skills that can be carried into the youths’ future experiences. “As a team, we were able to share in the basic table setting and dining etiquette for them, skills we are sure that they will be able to use in their next fine dining experience,” Morgan added.
Organizers expressed optimism that the camp’s blend of discipline, mentorship and soft skills training will have a lasting impact on participants. With stakeholders pledging continued support, the Beaches Turks and Caicos team and their partners aim to expand similar initiatives, further investing in the personal and professional growth of the next generation of Turks and Caicos Islanders.
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
NASSAU, Bahamas — More Bahamians are accessing HIV and sexually transmitted infection-related healthcare through National Health Insurance, a trend the NHI Authority says should be viewed positively.
NHIA stressed in an August 6 statement that its 2025 figures measure healthcare utilisation, not newly diagnosed infections. They include beneficiaries screened, treated, monitored or receiving follow-up care, including people diagnosed previously.
“Increased utilisation of these services should be viewed as a positive development,” NHIA said.
The Authority pointed to “greater enrolment and use of NHI, improved access to screening and testing, continued treatment and monitoring of existing conditions, and increased willingness to seek medical care.”
The development comes amid a mixed three-year HIV picture. New diagnoses rose from 130 in 2023 to 156 in 2024, before declining to 142 in 2025.
NHIA said increased utilisation demonstrates that more beneficiaries are accessing needed healthcare and actively managing their health, reinforcing the importance of screening, early diagnosis and continued treatment.
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