TCI News
TCI: International Travel Report
#TurksandCaicos, May 24, 2018 – Providenciales – In an effort to inform and educate the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands on the regional and international obligations of the Office of Premier and Minister of Finance, Premier Robinson has issued an International Travel Report for 2018.
- OCTA (Brussels, Belgium) February 2018
(PREMIER)
The Turks and Caicos Islands has had a long relationship with European Union and as such the islands have significantly benefitted in expertise, advice and financial assistance over the years. The TCI most recently benefitted from two European Development Funds (EDF) 10 and 11 and is also a participant in several Regional EU Programs. Under the EDF 11 Program, which is focused on improvements in the education sector and sustainable energy, marine biodiversity, climate change and disaster risk reduction, we are currently receiving funding for our new School in Providenciales among other support for the education sector.
As the Chair of OCTA, the Premier was responsible for chairing the Ministerial Conference of OCTA and round table discussions, with her Ministerial colleagues. This year, the TCI also participated in a one-day meeting on oceans organised by OCTA, under the theme “More than 17,000,000 Km2 of Ocean Policy: OCTs and the Sustainable Management of the Ocean and its resources”. The Premier in her discussions as chair highlighted her governments challenges and commitment to the issues faced including: challenges with pollution, fisheries, new opportunities for blue growth and new opportunities for research. It is customary for the Chair of OCTA to host a Gala Dinner in honour of the delegates, officials and guests who have travelled to the host country, or in this instance Brussels, for the auspicious occasion. Following the Storms, the TCI did not have the usual expense for the Dinner and the costs were borne by the EU.
- 11th Commonwealth Business Forum (London, United Kingdom) 16-18 April, 2018
(PREMIER)
The Premier was invited by the Commonwealth of 52 countries to be a VIP speaker at the 11th Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) in London on 16-18 April 2018 in conjunction with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The Forum is a truly global event, that brought together Heads of Government, Ministers, and senior business leaders from around the world. It provided a valuable opportunity for high level dialogue on trade and investment between business and government leaders from across the Commonwealth and beyond. Organized by the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, working with the UK Government and in partnership with the City of London, it was a unique gathering of global leaders. This event provided an opportunity to identify areas in which the Commonwealth can help its member countries to access modern financial services, harness technology and innovation, attract inward investment, and to improve sustainable business practices, particularly through public-private sector collaboration. The Premier addressed the session Economic and Climate Volatility: Innovation and Resilience for Island States and contributed her experience and leadership in this area.
- CDB Board of Governors Meeting (Grenada)
(AS MINISTER OF FINANCE)
The TCI is a member of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Each year the CDB hosts a general meeting for its members to discuss economic and social matters relevant to the financial viability of the region that will enhance growth, achieve and maintain stability, as well as reduce and alleviate poverty amongst its member countries. Last year, this Meeting was held in TCI as the Minister of Finance for the Turks and Caicos Islands was the serving Chair.
The forty-eighth (48th) Board of Governors meeting will be held in Grenada at the end of May 2018 and the theme of this year’s meeting is “Resilience”. The Hon. Premier was selected to speak on the topic ”Building Resiliency” as the Turks and Caicos Islands experienced two major tropical cyclones in September of 2017. The general theme for this year’s meeting would allow her and other leaders in other governments to share information and network as they embark on initiatives to build each country’s resilience to climate change, natural hazards and environmental changes for the survival of its people.
This Meeting will also allow the Hon. Premier to hold bi-lateral discussions with members of the CDB on the three areas of assistance that the Government is pursuing with the CDB in the following areas:
- Transport Sector Study;
- Climate Resilient Coastal Protection and Management; and
- Solid Waste Management
- Pre Joint Ministerial Council and JMC OT-EN (United Kingdom) June 11-15, 2018
(PREMIER)
The Pre- Joint Ministerial Conference meeting of Oversees Territory (OT) Leaders precedes the Joint Ministerial Conference that is slated for December 27-29, 2018 as a planning session to have candid discussions on those matters of priority affecting the Overseas Territories for inclusion on the Agenda of the JMC.
The Pre-Joint Ministerial Council (Pre-JMC) 2018 takes place against the backdrop of the United Kingdom (UK) decision to leave the European Union (EU). Overseas Territories (OT) Political Leaders will consider the direct engagement of the United Kingdom on Brexit without either side losing focus on non-EU issues which OTs require support on in areas such as environment, health, economic development and security. Given the anticipated UK preoccupation with Brexit, OT Political Leaders will present their priorities to the British Government to ensure they are on the UK’s agenda and that the UK follows through on agreed commitments.
The JMC OT-EN was established following the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union as a forum for the implications of Brexit on the OT’s to be discussed and the priorities of the OT’s in the negotiations to be considered.
- CARICOM (Jamaica)
(PREMIER)
The Thirty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community will be held 4-6 July 2018 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. During the three (3) day conference Premier will seek to hold a bilateral with CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irvine LaRocque and region leaders. This meeting of the conference of heads will also offer the opportunity to network with CARICOM leaders to address the body of Caribbean leaders to garner support for our challenges faced by the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The meeting is expected to focus on the effects on the economic climate on member states of the Caribbean Community and framework by which the Community can achieve growth and development amidst the current environment. Additionally, the issue of crime and security is top among the three broad area that are up for discussion.
The Heads of Governments are also scheduled to discuss issues relating to the region’s slow recovery from the global economic crises; the heavy debt burdens of some members and the effects policies by international financial institutions have had on the economies of CARICOM.
- Joint Ministerial Conference (JMC) NOVEMBER 2018
(PREMIER)
The Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) is the highest political forum under the 2012 White Paper, bringing together UK Ministers, elected Leaders and Representatives of the Overseas Territories for the purpose of providing leadership and a shared vision for the Territories. The mandate is to monitor and drive forward collective priorities for action in the spirit of partnership.
Hon Sharlene L Cartwright Robinson
Premier & Minister of Finance
The Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos, April 25, 2026 – A major shift in how healthcare is delivered in the Turks and Caicos Islands is at the center of the Government’s latest budget, with a focus on reducing reliance on overseas treatment and strengthening services at home.
Presenting his contribution to the national debate, Kyle Knowles outlined a strategy aimed at building a more sustainable healthcare system
—one that allows more residents to access quality care within the country.
The health sector has been allocated $94.1 million, making it one of the largest areas of public spending in the $550.8 million Budget passed on April 23.
Central to the Minister’s approach is a restructuring of the Treatment Abroad Programme (TAP), which has grown significantly in recent years as more patients are sent overseas for specialized care.
The Government now aims to reverse that trend.
“We are reforming healthcare to ensure long-term sustainability,” Knowles indicated, pointing to efforts to strengthen local services and reduce the need for travel.
The strategy includes improving healthcare infrastructure, expanding services available within the islands and increasing efficiency through the digitization of medical records.
Digitization is expected to support better coordination of care, reduce delays and allow for more accurate tracking of patient needs—part of a
broader effort to modernize public services.
The Minister emphasized that the goal is not only cost control, but improved access.
“No family should have to leave home to get quality care,” he said, underscoring the Government’s intention to refocus healthcare delivery on local capacity.
The shift comes as rising healthcare costs continue to place pressure on public finances, with overseas treatment representing one of the most expensive components of the system.
By investing more heavily in domestic services, the Government is seeking to reduce that burden while improving outcomes for residents.
While the direction is clear, details on timelines and the pace of expansion for local services were not fully outlined in the presentation.
Still, the emphasis on sustainability, access and modernization signals a strategic pivot in how healthcare is expected to evolve in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
Turks and Caicos, April 25, 2026 – Premier Charles Washington Misick has pushed back against criticism of the Government’s newly passed budget, defending both its direction and execution as deliberate and necessary for national development.
Wrapping up debate on the $550.8 million Budget, passed on April 23, the Premier dismissed concerns raised by the Opposition
about inefficiency, rising costs and gaps in delivery, insisting the Government’s approach is measured and focused on long-term growth.
“This budget is about delivering for our people,” Misick said, as he reinforced the administration’s commitment to infrastructure, healthcare expansion and broader economic development.
Opposition Leader Edwin Astwood had earlier challenged the Government’s performance, pointing to unfilled posts, delayed projects and what he described as weak execution despite increasing allocations.
In response, the Premier rejected the notion that the Government is failing to deliver, instead arguing that building national capacity takes time and sustained investment.
He maintained that staffing challenges are being addressed and that improvements across ministries are ongoing, even as demand for public services grows.
The Premier also defended the scale of spending, framing it as a necessary step to support development across the islands, rather than unchecked expansion.
“We are investing in the future of this country,” he said, pointing to continued funding for infrastructure, community development and
public services.
On the question of equitable growth, Misick reiterated his administration’s focus on balanced development, including ongoing investments in the Family Islands.
He argued that progress is being made, even if transformation is not occurring as rapidly as some would like.
Throughout his closing remarks, the Premier leaned on the country’s economic fundamentals—highlighting strong cash reserves, stable growth projections and international confidence in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ fiscal management.
While the rebuttal addressed criticism head-on, it did not significantly alter the structure of the budget or introduce major new measures in response to concerns raised during the debate.
Instead, the Government’s position remained consistent: the plan is in place, the investments are targeted, and delivery will continue.
The exchange underscores a clear divide—between an Opposition pressing for faster, more measurable results, and a Government maintaining that its strategy is already on course.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER
Turks and Caicos, April 25, 2026 – There was no mistaking the enthusiasm of the Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade, E. Jay Saunders, as he laid out his vision for a more digitally driven Turks and Caicos Islands—one where services are faster, systems are connected, and doing business is easier.
But within that forward-looking presentation, what remained notably absent were clear timelines and defined measures to ensure data
security and system reliability.
“We are moving toward a fully integrated digital government,” Saunders told the House, as he outlined a future where public services are delivered seamlessly through technology.
With responsibility for the country’s economic and digital transformation, Saunders pointed to several areas expected to be reshaped by the rollout of e-government systems, including revenue collection, business licensing, customs processing and access to public services—all designed to reduce delays, improve compliance and streamline transactions.
The vision is one of convenience and efficiency: fewer lines, faster approvals, and systems that communicate across departments rather than operate in silos.
Within the framework of the Government’s $550.8 million Budget, passed on April 23, the digital push is positioned as a key driver of modernization and improved service delivery.
However, for many users, the experience of government systems today remains inconsistent.
Periodic outages, payment disruptions and service downtime continue to affect daily transactions, raising practical concerns about how quickly the country can transition to a fully digital model.
Despite the scale of the ambition, the Minister’s presentation did not directly address how system reliability will be strengthened or how data will be protected as more services move online.
Those elements—uptime, security and resilience—are critical to public confidence, particularly as businesses and residents become increasingly dependent on digital platforms to access government services.
The direction is clear, and the potential impact is significant.
But as the country moves closer to greater digital dependence, the success of that transformation will ultimately rest not just on what is promised—but on whether the systems can be relied upon when they are needed most.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
-
News3 days agoPolice Honour Retired Officers and Reach Out to Community in Grand Turk
-
News3 days agoNEW DESTINATION GUIDE BOOK ANNOUNCED FOR TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS
-
News2 days agoTCI Real Estate Enters Buyer’s Market Phase as Luxury Demand Softens
-
Independent writer4 days agoQuestions & Concerns About Integrity at TCI Immigration Department and the Department of Labour / Employment Services
-
News4 days agoExperience Turks and Caicos Launches Strategic Travel Advisor Education Program in Partnership with Travelview International
-
News3 days agoA Lesson in Nature: Sandals Foundation Takes Students on Mindfulness Nature Trail for Earth Day
-
Government1 day ago$94.1Mfor Health; Knowles Pushes to Keep Care at Home
-
News2 days agoStayover Arrivals to the Turks and Caicos Islands Increase by 5 percent in the First Quarter of 2026