TCI News
Breaking News: PDM All Island Member breaks ranks, asks to ‘sit somewhere else’ in House of Assembly
Grand Turk , Turks and Caicos Islands – March 15, 2018 – The PDM Administration has been accused of shutting one of its members out and it may lead to that parliamentarian breaking away completely from the governing party. Hon Josephine Connolly, an All Island Member of the House of Assembly has requested to be re-seated, as a matter of national interest, she said.
The second most popular ‘at large’ elected Member of Parliament today announced that she believes it is in the best interest of the country if she were to be removed from the backbench of the People’s Democratic Movement and given a new spot to sit.
Hon Connolly made the shocking statement which leaves the country wondering if the all island candidate who ran on the PDM ticket, will go independent or join the Progressive National Party as had been rumored. 
During House of Assembly session which is on in the Capital, Grand Turk today, Hon Connolly began her statement with an expression of disappointment in the progresses of the government in carrying out its legislative agenda.
With the Speaker trying to halt her comments, Hon Connolly, who last June had the Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services ministerial portfolio stripped from her, managed to get these words out…
“It has become increasingly difficult for me to align myself …”
House of Assembly Speaker, Hon Dwayne Taylor halted the comments on the premise that they were ‘ensuing a debate.’ The second all Island member resisted the characterization of her remarks but did pause.
Connolly was asked to take her seat and asked to cut off her microphone by the Speaker.
Eventually, the Member of Parliament was permitted to continue her statement, “Furthermore having regard to the fact that I am not privy to any prior discussions that greatly affect the lives of our beloved people nor extended the principles of respect outlined above, it is in the interest of this country that I sit somewhere else.”
Magnetic Media has reached out to Hon Josephine Connolly for a comment regarding the announcement and whether what she conveyed means she will also be leaving the PDM party. There has been no reply up to publication time.
It had long been contentious between Sharlene Robinson and Josephine Connolly, as both women had shown passionate interest in the leadership position of the PDM. While there had been some arrangement which put Connolly’s leadership dreams on hold, the simmering tension lingered and reared its head during a medical transfer matter which led to accusations of disrespect and several PDM emergency meetings. The situation also left Hon Josephine Connolly out of inner circle once her Cabinet position was revoked by Premier Sharlene Robinson. 
Connolly had shared in her own press conference following the ‘firing’ that she planned to remain on the PDMs side, still there was evidence that it was proving a difficult promise to keep as the tumultuous tone among the PDM elected party members did not subside.
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?
PROVIDENCIALES — New commercial Crown Land applications are facing a six-month pause as the Turks and Caicos Islands Government takes inventory of its holdings.
During Cabinet meetings held July 15 and 16, an immediate six-month moratorium was approved on the acceptance, processing
and approval of new applications for commercial Crown Land grants, leases and allocations.
The pause will remain in place pending completion of the Crown Land Inventory Review. Cabinet’s summary did not state what prompted the review or indicate whether availability of commercial Crown Land is a concern.
The two-day meeting also advanced major consumer legislation. Cabinet approved the National Fair Competition Policy 2026 and drafting instructions for a Fair Competition Ordinance, moving TCI toward stronger consumer protection and fair competition rules.
In Grand Turk, Cabinet approved rezoning land in the North West Suburbs from low-density to medium-density residential use to facilitate a new apartment development.
Cabinet also advanced fisheries reforms, water legislation allowing private and public-private investment, minerals legislation and appointments across tourism, health and finance.
Progress toward establishing a TCI Credit Union was also noted.
PROVIDENCIALES — Major development projects outside Providenciales received Cabinet attention on July 8, with Government approving agreements connected to the redevelopment of Dellis Cay and a resort development in North Caicos.
Cabinet approved a Development Agreement between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Desarrollos Hotelco DC Ltd. and
Desarrollos Hotelco Astoria Ltd. for the redevelopment of Dellis Cay.
The long-discussed private island development sits between Providenciales and North Caicos and its return to Cabinet signals another step toward redevelopment.
Cabinet also approved amendments to an agreement involving SPR LND Ltd. (Royal Reef) and TCIG Development Agreement for a resort/hotel development in North Caicos.
Other decisions included approval of the First Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026 for onward transmission and the appointment of Cindy Ewing as Chair of the Invest TCI Board, effective August 1 for three years.
Cabinet also noted consultation outcomes concerning changes to business licensing, approved professional membership expenses for qualifying Telecommunications Commission staff and approved advice relating to the Interim Clinical and Estates Services PPP.
The July 8 meeting was chaired by Acting Governor Anya Williams.
Photo Credit: Royal Reef (Keith)
-
News1 week agoFacts According to the Turks & Caicos Premier About His Constitutional Amendments
-
News1 week ago80 DAYS. $80 MILLION. – PDM Demands Answers from Government
-
News1 week ago“The Contract is The Problem, Not The Hospitals”
-
News1 week ago
Premier Lays Out Cost of Hospital Dispute
-
News7 days agoPAY FIRST. QUESTION LATER.
-
Education1 week agoDr. Candice Williams Appointed First Vice-President of Regional Higher Education Association
-
Health4 days ago47,459 MEASLES CASES, 44 DEATHS ACROSS AMERICAS
-
News3 days agoELECTRICITY BILL SHOCKER: PELICAN ENERGY WARNED GOV’T