TCI News
Eye Clinic Helps Thousands in the Turks and Caicos
#Providenciales, August 9, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The Sandals Foundation, the charitable arm of Beaches Resorts, is reaffirming its 
commitment to the Turks & Caicos Islands by partnering with US-based charity organization Great Shape! Inc. iCare Project, the Community Fellowship Centre and the Ministry of Health & Human Services to host their first free eye care clinic for residents across the islands.
The five day free eye clinic which took place at the Community Fellowship Center Church on the Leeward Highway from July 27 to August 3, 2018 saw 42 volunteers from the USA, Canada, UK, Jamaica, and Australia consisting of, among others, 7 optometrists, 1 ophthalmologist, 5 registered nurses, and 6 opticians. They provide hypertension and glucose screening, full eye exams, sunglasses, reading glasses, and prescription glasses to patients in need.
“We have touched and transformed so many lives with the Eye Care clinic, from our senior citizens to children and everyone in-between,” said Elanor Finfin Krzanowski, PR Manager for Beaches and the Sandals Foundation. “The human impact was incredible, I am so happy that were able to secure a mission trip for Turks and Caicos and of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t say think you to our great partners, we are thankful to Great Shape! Inc. iCare along with the volunteers, the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Community Fellowship Center and everyone else who came on board to make this health initiative happen. We really couldn’t have done this without partnership. ”
Director of the Great Shape! iCare project, Steven Stern, said they hope to treat over 1000 patients over the five days. “We are happy to bring the Great Shape! iCARE project to the people of the Turks and Caicos. We are grateful for the great sponsorship of Sandals Foundation and Beaches Resorts who enable us to perform our much-needed services through our long-time partnership. The joy of receiving a pair of glasses and seeing properly for the first time in your life is powerful and life-changing.” Stern added that a full pallet of supplies was shipped ahead of time to accommodate this outreach.
Over the past nine years, the Sandals Foundation has supported the Great Shape! Inc. to provide free eye-care, dental services, literacy, and teacher training programs to residents in several Caribbean islands, providing accommodation, meals, transportation, communications, and logistical support to all volunteers to make these mission possible. To date, the Sandals Foundation has impacted over 209,000 across the Caribbean through 
healthcare initiatives, standing firm in its belief that proper health care should be accessible to all.
Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke, said the expansion of the clinic to Turks and Caicos is another indication of the Foundation’s commitment to supporting residents across the Caribbean. “We are very pleased to see the expansion of this much-needed clinic to benefit even more people who are in need of eye care services. Health Care is one of the basic needs of every human being, and we are thrilled to bring this service to the residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands, some of whom might otherwise not have the opportunity or resources to get their eyes checked,” Clarke said. The clinic will be based at the Community Fellowship Centre Church on Leeward Highway, Providenciales from July 30 to August 3 and Clarke encourages all residents to make very good use of the opportunity
This will be the project’s first vision clinic outside of Jamaica where they have served over 29,000 residents over the past 9 years.
Release: Sandals Resorts
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
-
Health3 days ago47,459 MEASLES CASES, 44 DEATHS ACROSS AMERICAS
-
News3 days agoELECTRICITY BILL SHOCKER: PELICAN ENERGY WARNED GOV’T