TCI News
Turks and Caicos Post Cabinet Meeting Statement
Grand Turk, January 24, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – His Excellency the Governor, Dr John Freeman, chaired the 3rd meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, 23 January 2019, at the Government Compound Office on Grand Turk.
All Ministers were present.
At this meeting Cabinet:
Authorised Invest TCI to draw up a new Development Agreement on a conditional basis between Vista Development Ltd (TCI Toscana GP Ltd) and TCIG restating the terms of the expired Development Agreement and setting a new conditionality date of 31 December 2019;
- Approved a request for additional funding for the Prison from the Contingency Fund for the amount of $120,000 for rations and prisoner discharge allowances;
- Considered the report by the consultancy firm, Castalia Ltd, on Fortis TCI Ltd’s proposals for rate and regulatory reform and made recommendations to the Ministry;
- Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve recommendations for inclusion in the draft Hotel and Restaurant Ordinance (Amnesty, Validation, Variation) (Amendment) Bills 2018 which will be forwarded in due course to the House of Assembly for approval;
- Cabinet noted the recommendation of the Procurement Board on the award of the following contract in accordance with the Public Procurement Ordinance: TR 18/15 Reinstatement of Government Buildings All Islands – Lot 1 Crown Land Building, Grand Turk and Lot 2 Ministry of Education, Grand Turk. Cabinet approved the reallocation of funding under Development Project No. PN 005478 from sub-project Crown Land Building, Grand Turk, to sub-project Ministry of Education, Grand Turk;
- Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve, in principle, the final consultancy report on the “Strategic Analysis of TCI’s Financial Services Sector” subject to comments received being incorporated;
- Noted and discussed the financial performance of the TCI Statutory Bodies for the period July – September 2018 as reported by the Accountant General in the 2ndQuarter Financial Report 2018/19 submitted in accordance with Section 148 (1) of the Public Finance Management Regulations;
- Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the Wildlife Conservation and Trade Bill 2018 for forwarding to the House of Assembly for approval. The Bill would be subject to any amendments proposed by the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES);
- His Excellency the Governor raised the question of additional resources for the RTCIPF following concerns raised by the Commissioner of Police;
- The Hon. Deputy Premier raised the escalating cost of repatriations of illegal migrants;
- The Hon. Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Gaming and the Hon. Premier provided an up-date on plans for the removal of the Mega One Triton vessel from Governor’s Beach on Grand Turk;
At the request of The Hon. Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Gaming, received an up-date by Her Excellency the Deputy Governor on the recruitment of vector control and emergency services staff on Middle Caicos;
- Received an up-date by the Hon. Premier on the visit to TCI on 24 January by the Bahamian Foreign Minister and officials to discuss co-operation to tackle illegal migration;
- Noted the approval by Cabinet by round robin of Planning Application PR 13836 for outline development permission for the construction of a Government Primary School and Special Needs Centre on Crown Land Parcel 61113/268 at Long Bay, Providenciales in accordance with the Physical Planning Ordinance 2014;
Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
Release: Governor’s Office
Turks and Caicos, October 28, 2025 – We are closely monitoring the impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica, and our thoughts and prayers are with our regional neighbours for their safety and well-being
We are now entering a critical period as Hurricane Melissa advances towards the Turks and Caicos Islands. Current projections indicate that Hurricane Melissa will begin to impact the Turks and Caicos Islands around midday tomorrow, Wednesday, 29th October.
This morning, Her Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Premier chaired a State of Preparedness Meeting. All Government agencies and critical services are mobilised. The safety and protection of every person across our Islands remains our highest priority. Our emergency response teams are prepared and the TCI Regiment is deployed across each of our Islands to support community readiness and immediate response. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are on active duty, with additional officers in North Caicos, Salt Cay, South Caicos and Grand Turk.
At this time, the hurricane is moving north-northeast. The country is expected to experience tropical storm conditions, heavy rainfall and
significant storm surge. The storm surge poses a serious concern for low-lying coastal areas especially along our western and southern coastlines, which may result in coastal flooding. Based on the most current weather projections and anticipated impacts for the Turks and Caicos Islands, the National Executive have agreed the following actions:
1. Evacuation Advisories
Residents in specific low-lying and flood-prone coastal areas are likely to experience significant storm surge of 2-4 feet with accompanying rainfall. Strong advice is now place for residents in these areas to relocate to designated shelters which will be open from 4pm this afternoon. These areas include:
Middle Caicos
- Conch Bar Nearest Shelter: The Community Centre
North Caicos
- Sandy Point Nearest Shelter : Sandy Point Community Centre
- Whitby Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School
- Bottle Creek Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School
Providenciales
-
-
- Chalk Sound Nearest Shelter Enid Capron Primary School
- Five Cays Nearest Shelter: Enid Capron Primary School
- Discovery Bay Nearest Shelter: All Saints Church, Leeward Highway
- Juba Sound Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School
- Long Bay Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School
-
South Caicos
- Cockburn Harbour Nearest Shelter: Community Centre
- Old Airport Road Nearest Shelter: Community Centre
Should an evacuation order become necessary, it will be issued following the 6:00 PM Advisory this evening from the TCI National Weather Service.
2. Activation of Emergency Operations Centre
The National Emergency Operations Centre in Providenciales and all Islands Emergency Operations Centres will be activated at 4:00 PM today.
3. Shelters Access
Shelters across all Islands will open today at 4:00 PM to receive members of the public.
4. Shelter-in-Place
A Strong Shelter-in-Place Advisory is in place for all islands, commencing at 10:00 PM tonight. This will be in place until the all clear has been issued.
This means that from 10:00 PM tonight, all residents should be off the road, in a safe location, either at home or a designated shelter.
Please note that this position may be revised following the 6:00 PM Advisory from the TCI National Weather Service, depending on updated storm projections.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) has confirmed that all airports remain fully operational for today. They will advise the public about ongoing operations dependent on the weather impacts.
In times such as this, the role of commercial entities extends beyond business – it becomes a vital part of the community’s resilience. All retailers and service providers are urged to uphold their humanitarian responsibilities by maintaining fair pricing and ensuring essential goods and services remain accessible to all.
Residents and visitors are reminded to adhere strictly to all official advisories and evacuation orders as they are issued. Avoid unnecessary movement, secure your property, and ensure that you and your family are prepared with essential supplies. Stay prepared and stay safe.
Turks and Caicos, October 24, 2025 – Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey delivered an impassioned address to male students at Clement Howell High School, calling on them to recognize their power, seize their potential, and “awaken the sleeping giants” within.
In a message that blended humility, faith, and personal experience, the Commissioner reminded the boys that the decisions they make today will shape their future.“The choices you make today determine who you become tomorrow,” he said.
Bailey, who revealed he was the first in his family to attend high school, urged the students to embrace education and discipline as tools of
transformation.“Knowledge is power. If you want to be a real man, you need to read,” he told them. “Remember your potential — if others can do it, so can you. Some of you are sleeping giants waiting to be awakened.”
He emphasized that circumstances of birth do not dictate destiny, challenging the young men to carry self-respect, faith, and moral conviction wherever they go. “Self-respect is key; respect yourself, respect others, and respect God,” he said. “The circumstances you were born into do not define who you are.”
The Commissioner also spoke about resilience, advising that true strength often lies in restraint.
“There will be challenges, and people may try to impede your development — but rise above negativity. Sometimes, strength means walking away,” he said. “Some of you are sleeping lions; it’s time to awaken that instinct and rediscover your true potential.”
In closing, Commissioner Bailey delivered a stirring challenge:
“Each morning, look in the mirror and remind yourself that you were created by God and are capable of great exploits. You are a possibility with potential. Step forward with confidence — this is your country, your islands. Be the best version of yourself.”
Following his speech, the Commissioner engaged the students in open dialogue, answering questions and listening to their perspectives on issues affecting young men in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.
-
world news1 week ago80% of the World’s Poor Face Climate Hazards — UNDP Sounds Alarm
-
TCI News6 days agoFrontier Airlines’ Arrival to Turks & Caicos Marks a Game-Changing Connection
-
TCI News1 week agoBeaches Turks and Caicos Celebrates TCI National Heritage Day with investment in youth and culture
-
TCI News1 week agoInvest Turks and Caicos Unveils Categories for The MSMES “A Celebration of Excellence”
-
Uncategorized1 week agoISU Supports Successful Multiagency Demolition Exercise in Blue Hills
-
USA6 days agoNarco-Terrorist Take Down by US Gutting Caribbean Gang-Crime
-
TCI News1 week agoTurks & Caicos Police Commissioner Urges Students to “Awaken Their Sleeping Giants”
-
TCI News3 days agoHURRICANE MELISSA: NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTIONS