Turks and Caicos, July 6, 2026 – Former Turks and Caicos Premier Michael Misick will remain in prison as he appeals his conviction in the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) corruption case after the Court of Appeal refused his application for bail pending appeal.

The Court also denied bail to former Cabinet Minister McAllister Hanchell and attorney Thomas “Chal” Misick, meaning all three men will continue serving their custodial sentences at His Majesty’s Prison while the appeals process moves forward.

The ruling is a significant development in one of the territory’s most consequential criminal prosecutions. It means the convictions remain in effect, and the men will stay incarcerated unless the Court of Appeal later overturns their convictions or otherwise orders their release.

The Court found the applicants had not established the exceptional circumstances required for bail pending appeal. It also determined there was insufficient basis to conclude that the appeals were likely to succeed or that the men would complete most or all of their prison terms before their appeals are heard.

Michael Misick was sentenced in May to four years and 26 days after being convicted on three bribery counts. Hanchell received a three-year sentence for bribery, while Thomas “Chal” Misick was sentenced to four years following his conviction for money laundering.

The convictions followed years of investigations and court proceedings arising from the SIPT inquiry into allegations of corruption involving former public officials and government transactions.

While the appeals remain before the courts, Monday’s decision confirms that the three appellants will continue serving their prison sentences. Their legal challenge now shifts to the substantive appeal, where the Court of Appeal will determine whether the convictions or sentences should be upheld, varied or overturned.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, June 30, 2026 – The Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) has secured a landmark partnership with Caribbean Health Insurance (CHI), a product of Bee Insurance Corp, giving tourism businesses across the destination access to health coverage of up to USD 500,000 per employee.

The official signing ceremony, hosted by Beaches Turks and Caicos, capped months of work led by the TCHTA Membership Committee to identify a reputable provider capable of helping to fill a critical coverage gap in the hospitality sector.

The launch also marks a timely and significant private-sector solution to a growing healthcare coverage concern following the Government’s recent announcement that work permit holders would no longer have access to the NHIB Treatment Abroad Program – a change that left many employees across the tourism sector, and beyond it, without the usual pathway to specialized medical care outside the Turks and Caicos Islands.

TCHTA President James McAnally said the agreement is a critical step in supporting the people who power the country’s leading industry.

“Our industry depends on people, and when something as important as access to care is affected, we have a responsibility to seek practical solutions,” said McAnally. “This partnership with Caribbean Health Insurance gives our members a comprehensive and affordable option for their teams. It is also an example of the role the TCHTA plays in advocating, responding, and creating avenues that support the sustainability of our sector.”

The Caribbean Health Insurance plan offers two tiers, CORAL and PEARL Elite, providing coverage of USD 300,000 and USD 500,000 respectively, with the PEARL plan including air ambulance service. Both grant policyholders access to a growing network of hospitals and specialists in the Dominican Republic and Colombia, with Jamaica expected to join the network later this year. Coverage includes telemedicine, bilingual patient support, and features a zero-deductible structure.

“We have developed Caribbean Health Insurance specifically for our region. At Caribbean Health Holdings, we are deeply committed to supporting the people and businesses of the Turks and Caicos Islands by expanding access to high-quality and affordable healthcare solutions,” said Sergio Madinabeitia Arango, Executive Director of CHI.

“Our medical network connects members to trusted centers of medical excellence across the Caribbean and Latin America, including leading providers in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Jamaica, and we keep expanding. This regional approach ensures that world-class care is more accessible, more efficient, and closer to home.”

On the partnership with the TCHTA, Arango shared, “Our partnership with the TCHTA represents an important step in advancing health security for one of the country’s most vital industries. Together, we are helping create stronger healthcare access for employers, employees, and their families, while supporting the long-term wellbeing of the Turks and Caicos community.”

The initiative was spearheaded by the TCHTA Membership Committee, chaired by Snjezana Andrews. Ahead of the signing, the Committee hosted a public virtual presentation, connecting employers and employees to CHI representatives to learn more about the coverage options, ask questions, and better understand the enrollment process.

“This initiative speaks directly to the purpose of the Membership Committee,” said Andrews. “Our role is to listen to our members, understand where the gaps exist, and help identify practical solutions that bring real value. We are proud to offer members an option that responds to a clear need and allows them to better support their teams.”

In 2025, the Membership Committee identified health insurance options as a priority member benefit and key goal for the Association’s current term, noting that smaller tourism providers were often challenged to access traditional group coverage on their own. The Government’s announcement regarding changes to treatment abroad access added urgency to that work and broadened its relevance across the sector.

Andrews says the partnership is not just a win for TCHTA members, but for any organization in the Turks and Caicos Islands that values its employees and wants to strengthen the benefits available to them, adding, “In a competitive labour market, access to meaningful health coverage is key to attracting, supporting, and retaining good talent.”

Honourable Kyle Knowles, Minister of Health and Human Services, attended the signing ceremony and welcomed the opportunity for continued collaboration around healthcare access and coverage options for residents and workers in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“This new program provides an additional layer of security for employees in the tourism and hospitality sector by expanding access to private health insurance coverage, including the opportunity for eligible migrant workers and their families to access overseas medical treatment when needed. That is a powerful and compassionate development. It recognizes that while our local healthcare system offers quality care and continues to improve, there are times when specialized treatment abroad may be necessary.

This initiative is a significant advancement that complements the healthcare services already available locally, while strengthening the safety net for those who serve in one of our most vital economic sectors. It reflects a practical and forward-looking approach to expanding healthcare access, enhancing employee welfare, and supporting the long-term sustainability of our tourism and hospitality industry.”

As part of its commitment to the Turks and Caicos Islands, Caribbean Health Insurance will establish a local office at The Hub in Grace Bay. Led by veteran local insurance executive Craig Archibald, the office will provide the public with an in-country point of contact for information, assistance and service.

The TCHTA also confirmed that a second coverage option, offering access to care within the United States, is being finalized with local provider, CSC Insurance Brokers Ltd. Further details will be shared once that agreement is complete.

“This is bigger than a single agreement. It’s about making sure our members and their teams have real options when it comes to something as fundamental as healthcare,” said Stacy Cox, TCHTA CEO. “We encourage every local organization, member or not, to reach out and explore what this partnership can offer their teams and families.”

Interested businesses can contact the Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association at info@turksandcaicoshta.com or 649.332.5787 to learn more about TCHTA membership and the CHI health insurance option.

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — When the need arose to protect hundreds—more likely thousands—of the workers who power the Turks and Caicos Islands’ leading industry, the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) again demonstrated that its role extends well beyond promoting tourism or enhancing the visitor experience. It is also about advocating for, and responding to, the needs of the people behind the industry.

Four months after the Turks and Caicos Islands Government revised eligibility for the Overseas Medical Treatment Programme, leaving work permit holders outside the publicly funded treatment abroad system, the Association has stepped in with a solution —a practical alternative that restores access to overseas medical care.

The Government announced in February that only Turks and Caicos Islands British Overseas Territory Citizens and Status Card holders residing in the territory would remain eligible for Government-funded overseas treatment. At the time, officials also said continued investments in specialist services, diagnostic capacity and clinical infrastructure would reduce the need for overseas referrals and improve access to care at home.

Recognizing the implications of the policy change for tourism employers and employees alike, the TCHTA spent months working to secure another pathway to overseas medical care.  In a media release, which Magnetic Media has published in full, the Association announced the commendable remedy.

We know that those efforts culminated last week in a landmark partnership with Caribbean Health Insurance (CHI), providing member businesses with two coverage options—CORAL, offering benefits of up to US$300,000, and PEARL Elite, providing up to US$500,000, including air ambulance services. A signing ceremony was held at Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort.

The plans connect employees with hospitals and specialists in the Dominican Republic and Colombia, with Jamaica expected to join the provider network later this year.

The Association says its work is not finished. A second insurance partnership with CSC Insurance Brokers Ltd. is nearing completion and will give participating employers and employees access to healthcare providers in the United States.

For an industry built on people, the initiative represents far more than another insurance product. It restores a pathway to overseas medical care for a workforce whose access to Government-funded treatment abroad changed earlier this year, reinforcing the TCHTA’s reputation for finding practical solutions when its members need them most.