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BREAKING NEWS: (CORRECTED) Hon Connolly speaks, says Independent not PNP

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos – March 20, 2018 – (CORRECTED) On Thursday March 15, in the House of Assembly, I requested to move my seat from the government benches and to sit elsewhere in the House.

I walked the floor to sit as an Independent not, let me be clear, with the PNP.

I believe I owe the public and my supporters an explanation. 

I was voted in by more than 3,000 people in the 2016 election to represent them and to help bring about the change that the country wanted.

Since being fired by the Premier as a Minister in June 2017, without explanation, I have been side-lined.

For the last 9 months I have not been contacted by the Premier nor anyone in Government. I have not been asked to comment on any bill, nor asked if I can assist with the Hurricane assistance program, nothing. Not one communication in 9 months!

As a back bencher I believe I still have much to offer the government with both ideas and practical solutions to the many problems we face.  The Premier has chosen to ignore me and disrespect the people who voted for me because of her long standing personal animosity towards me.

I have wrestled with my conscience as the problems for this country have multiplied and as this Government under the dominant leadership of the Premier has floundered.

I have watched in silence, as our borders are breached, our children are left to study under atrocious conditions, our tourists are left to collapse from heat in long immigration lines, and Salt Cay, Grand Turk and South Caicos are ignored. 

The Premier’s public pronouncement on Wednesday on Exhale indicated that Honourable Connolly is not part of my team and will never be part of my team certainly cleared all doubt that my exclusion was some type of oversight.  What in fact the Premier was saying was ‘I will ignore the representative of more than 3,000 people, nearly half the voting population, because I do not like her’.

To repeat what I said during election time, for me, ‘enough is enough’. My silence, up to now, has been out of loyalty to the Party and the people who elected me, but I have come to the realization that if I am to be loyal to the Party and the people of this country I need to take a stand against the failings of this Government and the lack of leadership before it is too late.

If I cannot represent my people inside this Government, I will represent them as an independent member outside of Government.

I have spoken to many PDM supporters who agree with my stance and are unhappy with the way this Government has performed.  The PDM voters know that this present Government does not reflect the values and principles of the PDM party, but their protests are muted because of the fear of retribution.  

The fear is justifiable, in my opinion, as I and my family have been the subject of vicious attacks in social media by the unsavory elements who have attached themselves to the coat tails of this Government.

The Premier is a Leader of a Democratic Party with a constitution that was drawn up by the founders of the Party led by Hon. Jags McCartney.The supporters, the Party Branches and the NGC all have a part to play under the PDM Constitution to ensure that the Party represents the people, to ensure democracy.

The PDM, as a Democratic Party, no longer exists. A few influential enablers in the NGC have ceded absolute power to the Premier. The NGC hardly meets, the Constitution is routinely ignored, and the Branches and supporters will not be needed again until 2020, so do not expect your calls to be returned until then.

Those with strong opinions are side-lined or purged from the Party. The list of long serving PDM’s who have been driven out of the Party since the appointment of the Premier as leader in 2012 is long and well known so it does not need repeating.

I am sure my actions will be painted as being disloyal to the Party. They are not! They are the actions of a committed democrat who believes in the party and loves her country.  I have no goals other than for my country to succeed.  I do not play games, I do not do deals and I will not be intimidated.

I am sure that the usual puppets in the social media will say that ‘she was never a real PDM’. But I would ask all PDM members and supporters to consider the other people purged from the Party, some who were founders of the Party, perhaps they were never ‘real PDM’s’.

The truth is that the party stands apart and above any one individual and it is dangerous to label all dissenters as disloyal. That is a recipe for dictatorship, not democracy.

Last week the Premier sought to blame the hardworking civil servants for the queues at the airport. As Minister of Finance (she has many ministries) she is well aware that the chaos at the airport was a direct result of her decision to cut the salaries budget of every department in the Immigration and Border Control Ministry.

The Premier was being disingenuous, but this type of attack on perceived enemies either directly or by proxies in social media is the one defining characteristic of this government.  The ‘I didn’t get the email’ excuse has become a running joke as it has been used so often as the explanation for none attendance at important community events.  Important for the community that is, if not for this government.

The Premier continues to use social media to distract, deflect and blame others for the ills of this country, but the real problems in this country cannot be fixed by the spin doctors.

Without a brave and honest NGC holding the Leader to account then the Government, the PDM Party and the country are destined to the same failed leadership for the next 2.5 years that we have seen in the last 16 months. I am not sure this country can stand another few months of mismanagement let alone 2 years and more.

There has been a remarkably bitter, vicious and long running campaign against me by the Premier since I won my seat in 2012. There was a brief truce during the run up to voting in the 2016 election which, as she gloatingly told me later, was because “she had an election to win”. 

I am comforted that I am not the only one who was fooled by the false promise of the campaign. I am sure all the hotel workers will understand that the Premier ‘had an election to win’, as will the voters who were promised change only to find that the only thing that changed was the promise.

Well I am fooled no longer. As an independent member of the House I will be an outspoken supporter of the promises the PDM party made in the 2016 campaign, including the payment of the 100% service charge for hospitality workers. If there are some who want to brand me as disloyal for seeking to carry out the promises that the PDM made to its supporters and the country in the election, so be it.

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TCI News

HURRICANE MELISSA: NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTIONS

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Turks and Caicos, October 28, 2025 – We are closely monitoring the impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica, and our thoughts and prayers are with our regional neighbours for their safety and well-being

We are now entering a critical period as Hurricane Melissa advances towards the Turks and Caicos Islands. Current projections indicate that Hurricane Melissa will begin to impact the Turks and Caicos Islands around midday tomorrow, Wednesday, 29th October.

This morning, Her Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Premier chaired a State of Preparedness Meeting.  All Government agencies and critical services are mobilised. The safety and protection of every person across our Islands remains our highest priority. Our emergency response teams are prepared and the TCI Regiment is deployed across each of our  Islands to support community readiness and immediate response. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are on active duty, with additional officers in North Caicos, Salt Cay, South Caicos and Grand Turk.

At this time, the hurricane is moving north-northeast. The country is expected to experience tropical storm conditions, heavy rainfall and significant storm surge. The storm surge poses a serious concern for low-lying coastal areas especially along our western and southern coastlines, which may result in coastal flooding.  Based on the most current weather projections and anticipated impacts for the Turks and Caicos Islands, the National Executive have agreed the following actions:

1.    Evacuation Advisories

Residents in specific low-lying and flood-prone coastal areas are likely to experience significant storm surge of 2-4 feet with accompanying rainfall. Strong advice is now place for residents in these areas to relocate to designated shelters which will be open from 4pm this afternoon. These areas include:

Middle Caicos 

  • Conch Bar                 Nearest Shelter: The Community Centre

North Caicos

  • Sandy Point              Nearest Shelter : Sandy Point Community Centre
  • Whitby                        Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School
  • Bottle Creek              Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School

Providenciales

      • Chalk Sound             Nearest Shelter Enid Capron Primary School
      • Five Cays                  Nearest Shelter: Enid Capron Primary School
      • Discovery Bay          Nearest Shelter: All Saints Church, Leeward Highway
      • Juba Sound              Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School
      • Long Bay                   Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School

South Caicos

  • Cockburn Harbour   Nearest Shelter: Community Centre
  • Old Airport Road      Nearest Shelter: Community Centre

Should an evacuation order become necessary, it will be issued following the 6:00 PM Advisory this evening from the TCI National Weather Service.

2.    Activation of Emergency Operations Centre

The National Emergency Operations Centre in Providenciales and all Islands Emergency Operations Centres will be activated at 4:00 PM today.

3.    Shelters Access
Shelters across all Islands will open today at 4:00 PM to receive members of the public.

4.    Shelter-in-Place

A Strong Shelter-in-Place Advisory is in place for all islands, commencing at 10:00 PM tonight. This will be in place until the all clear has been issued.

This means that from 10:00 PM tonight, all residents should be off the road, in a safe location, either at home or a designated shelter.

Please note that this position may be revised following the 6:00 PM Advisory from the TCI National Weather Service, depending on updated storm projections.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) has confirmed that all airports remain fully operational for today. They will advise the public about ongoing operations dependent on the weather impacts.

In times such as this, the role of commercial entities extends beyond business – it becomes a vital part of the community’s resilience. All retailers and service providers are urged to uphold their humanitarian responsibilities by maintaining fair pricing and ensuring essential goods and services remain accessible to all.

Residents and visitors are reminded to adhere strictly to all official advisories and evacuation orders as they are issued. Avoid unnecessary movement, secure your property, and ensure that you and your family are prepared with essential supplies. Stay prepared and stay safe.

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TCI News

Frontier Airlines’ Arrival to Turks & Caicos Marks a Game-Changing Connection

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Turks and Caicos, October 25, 2025 – Budget-friendly skies are opening over the Turks and Caicos Islands as Frontier Airlines prepares to launch its first-ever nonstop flights between Providenciales International Airport (PLS) and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) — the world’s busiest air hub.

Starting December 20, 2025, the twice-weekly service will offer residents and tourists a direct, affordable gateway to and from the U.S. mainland. The new route marks Frontier’s debut in the Turks and Caicos, part of a major regional expansion that includes 22 new routes across Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.

“We couldn’t be more excited to begin operations in Providenciales,” said Josh Flyr, Frontier’s Vice President of Network and Operations Design. “With our nonstop service to Atlanta, we’re making travel easier, more affordable, and unlocking connections to countless destinations across the U.S. and beyond. It’s not just about tourism — it’s about opportunity.”

Big Win for Providenciales and the Region

The move positions Howard Hamilton International Airport as a growing Caribbean hub. Frontier’s low-fare model is expected to stimulate visitor arrivals, particularly from Atlanta — a key U.S. tourism feeder city — while giving Turks and Caicos residents new, cost-effective travel options for business, education, and leisure.

Industry observers note that the timing couldn’t be better. Turks and Caicos tourism remains on an upward trajectory in 2025, with hotel occupancy and airlift both climbing following the pandemic rebound. Frontier’s entry adds competitive pricing to an air market long dominated by legacy carriers, expanding the reach of the destination to more budget-minded travelers.

A Wider Growth Strategy

The Atlanta–Providenciales launch is part of Frontier’s aggressive Caribbean push this winter, which also includes new flights to NassauSt. MaartenPuerto Vallarta, and San José del Cabo. Introductory fares to select destinations are as low as US $69 one-way.

For Turks and Caicos, the connection to Atlanta — one of Frontier’s strategic bases — means instant access to hundreds of onward destinations in North America and beyond.

As Frontier joins the expanding roster of carriers serving the islands, tourism officials are calling it a “win-win for accessibility and affordability.” And for travelers? It’s a golden ticket to paradise — at a fraction of the cost.

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TCI News

Turks & Caicos Police Commissioner Urges Students to “Awaken Their Sleeping Giants”

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Turks and Caicos, October 24, 2025 – Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey delivered an impassioned address to male students at Clement Howell High School, calling on them to recognize their power, seize their potential, and “awaken the sleeping giants” within.

In a message that blended humility, faith, and personal experience, the Commissioner reminded the boys that the decisions they make today will shape their future.“The choices you make today determine who you become tomorrow,” he said.

Bailey, who revealed he was the first in his family to attend high school, urged the students to embrace education and discipline as tools of transformation.“Knowledge is power. If you want to be a real man, you need to read,” he told them. “Remember your potential — if others can do it, so can you. Some of you are sleeping giants waiting to be awakened.”

He emphasized that circumstances of birth do not dictate destiny, challenging the young men to carry self-respect, faith, and moral conviction wherever they go.  “Self-respect is key; respect yourself, respect others, and respect God,” he said.  “The circumstances you were born into do not define who you are.”

The Commissioner also spoke about resilience, advising that true strength often lies in restraint.

“There will be challenges, and people may try to impede your development — but rise above negativity. Sometimes, strength means walking away,” he said. “Some of you are sleeping lions; it’s time to awaken that instinct and rediscover your true potential.”

In closing, Commissioner Bailey delivered a stirring challenge:

“Each morning, look in the mirror and remind yourself that you were created by God and are capable of great exploits. You are a possibility with potential. Step forward with confidence — this is your country, your islands. Be the best version of yourself.”

Following his speech, the Commissioner engaged the students in open dialogue, answering questions and listening to their perspectives on issues affecting young men in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.

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