TCI News

TCI: Leader of The Opposition/PNP Leader Trifling with Country’s Governance

Published

8 years ago

November 28, 2018

#Providenciales, November 28, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – I am surprised at the two most recent Releases from the Leader of the Opposition who has been fast asleep at the wheel of governance since assuming that Office in 2016 only waking up every now and then to use his few choice words.

I note with amusement the LOO’s remarks as it relates to the Constitution and offer the following:

On the matter of the Constitution:

The LOO removed himself totally from the process and appointed the Hon AK Missick to act on his behalf. He must be the first Leader of the Opposition to willfully remove himself from a process as important as the Constitution or perhaps it was his intention all along to frustrate the process. He stated that it was verbally communicated to me that his Party wished to wait on a new leader. This is not so, and the contents of an email received on September 6^th from Hon AK Missick stated that her Party would not be continuing constitutional talks with us but would wish to discuss “stronger recommendations as to self determination” as a first reason and then the point of selecting a new Executive who would be tasked with determining whether the PNP continue to engage on the Constitution.
“With the HOA adjourned to later this month, we write to advise that we would not be in a position to continue the Constitutional talks.

As you’ll agree the proposed changes from both parties are not that substantial to the form of the constitution that would advance our Country and people. We believe stronger recommendations as to self-determination should also be discussed.

Lastly, we are heading into a Party Convention and of the view that as we elect new National Executive members that they be allowed to make a determination on our Part’s direction as it relates to Constitutional engagement”. (Hon Akierra Missick)

This was in response to my email of September 2^nd, 2018 in which I outlined the clear decisions to be made: Updated Submissions; Refresher for the people on the 2015 Proposals and Trip To The UK.

The Leader of the Opposition “LOO” has stated that the UK will only deal with both a Government and Opposition. This is not entirely accurate as the last changes to the Constitution proved otherwise. In 2005, the UK dealt with the Government alone and precedent was set when former Premier Michael Misick negotiated the final changes to the 2006 Constitution with Lord Triesman of HMG. I would hasten to say though that like now, there was a Proposal from a bi partisan Constitutional Committee following public consultations. There were clear steps with three rounds of talks which started in TCI. The third round was in October 2005 with a Michael Misick led Government only delegation for two days of Meetings in the UK. The PDM Opposition were not involved and were granted a 15 minute Meeting to discuss. The UK Minister at the time said there was no need to discuss further as there would have been no change. I note the LOO’s firm stance that the UK has made it clear that they will not and I wish to advise the people of the country that this was not communicated to me in the past or currently and if this is in fact their position, then they would have only communicated this to one party, the Opposition.

I reiterate again for the public: The Government and the Opposition met in April of this year for a second meeting having had an introductory one in GT and I reported this to the country on several occasions. Both reviewed the submissions of the 2015 Report and agreed additions for further discussions with both Parties. We agreed that we would travel to London together and would engage the people of the Islands in a refresher of the submissions which I did a few weeks ago and which I will do again on Wednesday, November 30^th, 2018.

What the LOO did not remind the people of was the fact that the Proposals as submitted by Premier Rufus Ewing were all rejected. One may recall the statement made by Speaker Robert Hall when the rejection letter was received. Submissions were made under the Rufus Ewing led Administration in 2015 and within a few weeks, the Proposals were all rejected by Her Majesty’s Government. The LOO of the Opposition was correct in that it was mid October when there was a final exchange six weeks or so before Elections were constitutionally due. It was then that the former Premier approached myself as LOO and my inquiry was simply what are the steps to take and to this date, I have not had a response from him or Governor Peter Beckingham on the path forward and this was necessary to inform the Official Opposition who agreed that we would participate. I wish to remind the LOO that when the Constitutional Review was carried out in 2002 and completed in 2006, we knew the process: what the UK would accept etc, the number of rounds of talks with the UK and what else was entailed. In their exercise I was asked to follow blindly to the UK without a known plan.
My efforts have never left out the genesis of these Proposals as the LOO must recognized that not all persons suffer memory loss. Our efforts have been solely to revive the failed submissions of the Former Government whose Proposals we supported on behalf of the people whose voice formed the basis. Each Meeting when presented the opportunity, I spoke with the UK Ministers concerning this and the UK through the Governor invited the Proposals. If they are not minded to meet with the Government alone, they have not stated so and the withdrawal of the PNP at this stage from the Talks was clearly communicated by me to the UK. The UK has not said to me what the LOO has said to the people of this country and we remain surprised at the stance taken by the present Official Opposition to abandon talks on proposals that they submitted and supported as the Government based on the people’s views.

What is so disingenuous of the LOO is that though he has never been at the forefront of Constitutional changes or involved, he knows that the Meeting is not the end of discussions with TCIG but continued dialogue on proposals rejected with more steps to follow.

I have never played politics with the Constitution and will not begin to now as this is a national matter. I will not ask the Official Opposition to join me without a road map and they would be fool hearty to do so as former Premier Rufus Ewing attempted to do. Under both former Leaders Hon Derek Taylor and Hon Michael Misick, both PDM and PNP’s Administration, I accepted to serve. Under former Premier Hon Rufus Ewing, I again accepted to serve and in fact second his Motion in the House of Assembly. Constitutional Talks take time and we can ill afford to waste time.

We reject the foolish notion that the country should wait for the PNP to get their act together and to find a Leader before we can proceed on an invitation from the UK to talk. All OTs are invited to these Talks and the Constitution again appears on the Agenda while in London. I will proceed to discuss the proposals and the way forward on behalf of the people of this country.

The LOO and the PNP know full well that the path to what was communicated by Hon AK Missick on their behalf requires a referendum or General Election and that their petty actions now will only serve to frustrate the process. A change in Leader or Executive Committee whichever reason is correct has no bearing on the wishes of the people already communicated on their behalf. The UK does not deal with Political Parties but with elected Officials in Governments and Oppositions. The change in leadership in a Party can not affect a People’s wish. Constitutional Talks are led by a Government with the encouragement of a bi partisan approach throughout. Like in 2002, 2006 and 2015, we enjoyed that in consulting with our people. In 2006, the Government alone were entertained and in the final talks. We expect that there will be further dialogue as in time past but are equally confident as the elected Government of the day, precedent will allow us to proceed on our people’s behalf. We hope as we do that good sense will prevail and that the PNP Opposition will join the Talks whether they are able to find a new Leader or not.

Hon Sharlene L Cartwright Robinson

Premier & Minister of Finance

The Turks and Caicos Islands

Press Release

News

BermudAir Launches Service to the Turks and Caicos Islands on October 26th, Expanding Air Connectivity Ahead of Winter Season

Published

2 days ago

October 22, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (October 22nd, 2026) – The Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes BermudAir as the airline begins its service to the destination on Monday, October 26th, marking the start of a wider expansion that will connect us with additional cities across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.

BermudAir’s service will begin with a new nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Providenciales. The flight will depart from the Howard Hamilton International Airport at 8 am on Monday morning and arrives at 7.40 pm. Aboard the inaugural flight will be a delegation from the Turks and Caicos Islands led by Experience Turks and Caicos and the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA), and will include Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Anya Williams, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, as well s representatives of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA), the board of the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority, Invest TC and local media.

BermudAir will operate the Fort Lauderdale–Providenciales route three times weekly, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, through May 3rd, 2027. making it easier for business travellers with the schedule offering the potential for same-day return trips. The airline is also launching nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale and Belize City, Belize, on the same schedule, offering travellers in South Florida direct access to both destinations.

The new service introduces BermudAir’s premium leisure inflight experience to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Flights will operate on Embraer E190 aircraft configured without middle seats, giving every passenger a window or aisle seat, alongside complimentary snacks and beverages.

Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Zhavargo Jolly, welcomed the airline’s arrival, noting the importance of expanding airlift to support the continued development of the destination’s tourism industry.

“Air connectivity remains one of the most important factors in the continued development of our tourism industry. BermudAir’s expansion represents an opportunity to strengthen our connections with key international markets while opening new doors for our sister islands. I am particularly encouraged by the planned direct service between Newark and South Caicos, which speaks directly to our vision of expanding tourism opportunities across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Our objective is to ensure that improved connectivity translates into greater economic activity, stronger local businesses and more opportunities for Turks and Caicos Islanders to participate in and benefit from tourism.” said Minister Jolly.

Commenting on the significance of the new route for the country’s development, the Honourable Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development (PPID), stated: “The introduction of BermudAir’s new service is a testament to the continued growth and development of our aviation sector. The Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, alongside the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority, remains dedicated to enhancing our airport infrastructure to accommodate increased airlift. We are committed to working to ensure that our facilities provide a seamless, world-class experience for all incoming passengers and we warmly welcome BermudAir to our shores.”

The Fort Lauderdale launch is the first of several new services BermudAir plans to introduce to the Turks and Caicos Islands for the 2026–2027 winter season. Additional connections to Providenciales are scheduled from:

Bermuda to TCI and Grand Cayman: Beginning December 18th, 2026
Anguilla: Beginning December 19th, 2026
Boston, Massachusetts: Beginning December 19th, 2026
Toronto, Canada: Beginning December 19th, 2026
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina: Beginning December 20th, 2026
Newark, New Jersey to South Caicos: Beginning December 20th, 2026
St. Petersburg/Tampa, Florida: Beginning December 21st, 2026
Baltimore-Washington: Beginning December 24th, 2026

The expansion will give travellers more options for reaching the destination during the winter travel season, while broadening access from established and developing source markets. The additional routes also create opportunities for tourism stakeholders to reach new audiences and encourage visitors to explore more of the islands.

For flight schedules and bookings, visit www.flybermudair.com.

News

DDME Celebrates International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

Published

2 days ago

October 22, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

Emcee and members of the panel (L-R): Ms. Arnisiqua Selver, Mistress of Ceremony; Mr. Andrew Gardiner, TCI Red Cross; Mr. Garry McLean, Department of Planning and Ms. Kevaun Lucas, Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 22 October 2026: The Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) joined the global observance of International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) on October 13th. Various initiatives were held throughout the islands to bring awareness to the public, including panel discussions, community engagement activities, school visits, essay writing and an original video submission from the Eliza Simons School in Grand Turk.

Disaster Risk Reduction is a people-centred endeavour; it emphasises that policies, systems and investments must be designed around the needs and capabilities of individuals and communities, according to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. Each year, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), as the implementing agency for the Sendai Framework, issues a call to action encouraging individuals, communities, and countries to become resilient.

The 2026 IDDRR theme, ‘Resilience Starts at Home’ seeks to bring global and national awareness of the core role of households in disaster risk reduction, advocating for stronger governance and investment in resilient housing, reducing housing-related risk and empowering households to take risk-informed actions to protect themselves and strengthen community resilience.

The Turks and Caicos Islands, in an effort to reduce disaster risk, seeks to observe the concepts and core principles of the Sendai Framework 2015-2030. Throughout the years, many initiatives have been taken through the various stages of the disaster cycle from preparedness to recovery in an effort to strengthen the resilience of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Initiatives such as the creation and consistent updating of building codes, the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Housing Project following major hurricanes such as Ike in 2008, the creation of an early recovery framework, as well as strengthening CCRIFF insurance were all implemented to ensure that the Turks and Caicos Islands were on the path to build back stronger and better.

This year’s theme underscores the roles governments, the private sector, and individuals play in ensuring communities and homes are safe and more resilient. The Turks and Caicos Islands Government has made significant strides in ensuring that homes are constructed through the use of risk-informed planning, land use planning and construction practices. The Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Housing Project, which facilitated the construction of twenty-four (24) completely rebuilt homes and repaired thirty-four (34) homes, provided a baseline for future housing initiatives such as Programme 3. This programme includes community renewal and infilling under the National Housing Policy and seeks to repair property that has sustained physical damage for vulnerable people.

Residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands are reminded of the individual role that they can play in ensuring that their homes are resilient.

Ensure that you obtain the proper approvals from the Planning Department before building.
Ensure that you utilise the standards and building codes of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Include proper drainage systems and other methods to reduce flooding and water pooling near your home.
Update your family emergency plans and ensure that everyone in your household is aware of its contents.

Let us all do our part in ensuring that all homes across the Turks and Caicos Islands are resilient.

Highlights from IDDRR can be seen on the Official DDME Social media accounts: Facebook @ddme.tci_official and Instagram @ddm.tci

News

Imagine Turks & Caicos Represented in UK Parliament; New Report Favours It

Published

2 days ago

October 22, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

LONDON, ENGLAND — October 22, 2026 — The last time the Turks and Caicos Islands went on the record about having a representative in the UK Parliament, then-Premier Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson said there was no local appetite for it.

She made the statement on December 5, 2018, while giving evidence before the UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee during its inquiry into the future of the British Overseas Territories.

“There is no appetite in Turks and Caicos for it,” she told the committee.

Magnetic Media research reveals that Caribbean British Overseas Territories have never demonstrated unanimous support for direct representation at Westminster. However, in a press release received on Thursday, October 22, 2026, a group called Conservative Friends of the Overseas Territories (CFOT) revealed proposals for all 14 British Overseas Territories to receive dedicated representation in the House of Lords.

The proposal revisits a longstanding constitutional question on which Caribbean territorial leaders have expressed differing views. Some have favoured direct parliamentary representation, while others have preferred existing arrangements for engaging with British parliamentarians.

The latest proposal differs from earlier discussions about elected representatives in the House of Commons. CFOT is advocating dedicated representation in the House of Lords, intended to strengthen the territories’ influence without replacing their elected governments.

The proposal forms part of a wider strategy that CFOT hopes will influence the policies of a future Conservative government.

The Conservative Party, led by Kemi Badenoch since November 2024, is currently the second most popular political party in Britain, according to the latest YouGov opinion poll. It remains in opposition but has shown signs of recovery in public support. The October 18–19 survey placed the Conservatives at 23 per cent, ahead of Reform UK at 22 per cent, while the governing Labour Party led with 27 per cent. Conservative support has risen from 20 per cent earlier this month, although the party’s position varies across different polls. The improvement comes as Badenoch’s party seeks to rebuild its political standing following its defeat in the 2024 general election.

The newly released report, A New Era of Partnership: Sovereignty, Security and Sustainability – Redefining the UK Relationship with the Overseas Territories, was launched earlier this month at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, attended by Shadow Overseas Territories Minister Wendy Morton MP, Conservative parliamentarians and Peers.

A VOICE AT WESTMINSTER

Under the proposal, every British Overseas Territory would have dedicated representation in the House of Lords, providing a consistent parliamentary voice on constitutional rights, security, international relations and economic development.

The report stresses that such representation should strengthen, rather than replace, the democratic authority of territorial governments and their elected legislatures.

It also recommends parliamentary safeguards requiring approval before fundamental changes to a territory’s sovereignty, constitutional status or territorial integrity could take effect.

Another major proposal would establish a Cabinet Committee on the Overseas Territories, chaired by the British Prime Minister.

This would place territorial affairs under direct oversight at the highest level of UK government, with participation from Overseas Territory governments and regular reporting to Parliament.

A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH BRITAIN

CFOT is also advocating a long-term UK–Overseas Territories strategy, jointly developed with territorial governments, within the first year of a future Conservative administration.

The strategy would be supported by individual agreements setting out priorities, responsibilities and measurable outcomes.

A proposed “no surprises” commitment would ensure territorial governments are consulted early and kept informed about British legislation, international negotiations and decisions that could materially affect their interests.

The report also proposes a permanent UK–Overseas Territories Security and Resilience Partnership, with stronger intelligence-sharing, maritime surveillance and cooperation against organised crime and illegal fishing.

Other priorities include protecting critical infrastructure, improving disaster preparedness and strengthening food, water and energy security.

Economic recommendations include improved access to banking services, greater participation in international markets and support for financial and professional services, artificial intelligence, digital assets, emerging technologies and sustainable tourism.

The report also proposes multi-year environmental conservation funding and reforms to the Darwin Plus programme, giving territorial administrations a more direct role in managing conservation projects.

Greater participation in international diplomacy, improved access to UK education and public-service training, and annual parliamentary reporting are among the additional recommendations.

CFOT: TERRITORIES DESERVE STRONGER PARTNERSHIP

Giles Roca, Chief Executive of CFOT, said the existing relationship between Britain and its Overseas Territories was fragmented and relied on a strategy that had not been updated in 15 years.

“The Overseas Territories deserve a relationship with the United Kingdom that reflects their strategic importance, respects their democratic self-government and gives them a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their future,” Roca stated.

He identified dedicated House of Lords representation and prime ministerial oversight as central elements of the proposed reforms.

CFOT was established in September 2024 as a Conservative-affiliated special interest group. It says its membership includes more than 50 Conservative MPs and Peers.

The organisation argues that the territories should be treated as partners with their own democratic institutions, economic circumstances and constitutional arrangements, rather than having their interests managed through disconnected British government departments.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The proposals arrive ahead of the next UK–Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council meeting in November, when territorial leaders are expected to continue discussions about their relationship with Britain.

Caribbean Overseas Territory leaders have already called for a new UK White Paper to replace the 2012 framework, seeking clearer commitments on consultation, constitutional development and the future of the relationship.

The CFOT recommendations, however, are not UK Government policy and have not been formally adopted by the Conservative Party or Overseas Territory governments.

The report is intended to influence future British policy discussions, including the development of a more structured relationship with the territories.

For the Turks and Caicos Islands, the proposal raises a practical question: whether having a dedicated representative inside the British Parliament would provide greater influence over decisions affecting the territory.

It remains to be established which Overseas Territory governments were consulted in developing the CFOT proposals and whether they would welcome the particular model of House of Lords representation now being recommended.

Find the full report here: https://www.cfot.co.uk/