TCI News

TCI: Landfill Fires and Human Rights

Published

7 years ago

February 6, 2019

#Providenciales, February 6, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – For several years there have been complaints made about the conditions in Blue Hills, particularly in the Wheeland area due to regular fires at the landfill site. Over the last couple of days there have been many comments on social media about a new fire causing dense smoke in the settlement.

Although it’s not unusual to have an occasional problem at a landfill site, it is unusual that the landfill on Providenciales experiences fires so frequently. In the United Kingdom, home to approximately 70 million people, there are around 280 to 300 landfill fires every year. Providenciales, however, is a significantly smaller country with a population only 0.057% of the UK and having significantly less waste you would anticipate that a landfill fire would be unusual. Unfortunately, for the residents impacted, this is not the case.

There have been many allegations for these fires, such as poor management, illegal immigrants burning coal kilns, to malicious sabotage, but ultimately, whatever the cause, it is Government’s responsibility to resolve this matter expeditiously. This is exactly the purpose governments are meant to fulfil, to maintain the basic infrastructure of a country enabling them to protect the economy, environment, health and life of its residents., these are fundamental human rights.

Landfill fires occur when waste disposed of in a landfill ignites and spreads. Two types of landfill fires are generally recognised. Surface Fires and Deep-Seated Fires. Surface fires typically occur in underdeveloped countries that lack the capacity to properly cover waste with inert daily and intermediate covering, in developed countries they are often caused by arson. If unchecked, spontaneous combustion fires in particular, tend to burn deeper into the waste mass, resulting in deep seated fires.

Deep-Seated landfill fires, unlike a typical fire, are difficult to put out with water unless an overhaul operation is undertaken. In human terms, the emissions arising from these fires, which can continue for years, are potentially lethal with well-proven acute and chronic health impacts. Particularly concerning are the tire fires on landfills. Burning tires are known to emit dioxins and benzene derivatives which have been linked with reproductive impairment and cancer in humans.

The International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights confers the responsibility upon States to ensure that residents have an adequate standard of living, this means that our Government is responsible for putting in place, and monitoring compliance with, legislation that protects our living standards.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Article 11

The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent.

The International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights also confers the responsibility upon States to ensure that residents enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. This is normally associated with promotional campaigns on health matters, free healthcare and adequate mental health services but it is also associated with the quality of the environment that we all live in. In this respect this current administration is making a huge environmental stride with the move towards banning all single use plastics, an initiative that the Turks and Caicos Human Rights Commission fully endorses, but what of the devastating environmental conditions threatening the health of the residents of Blue Hills, Wheeland area?

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Article 12

The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for:

The provision for the reduction of the stillbirth-rate and of infant mortality and for the healthy development of the child;
The improvement of all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene;
The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases;
The creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness.

Due to the regular fires at the site many residents have reported difficulty in sleeping, problems with breathing and, especially of concern, the deteriorating health of children with asthma. One post on social media commented that a local school had closed due to concerns for the health of the children.

When a school is forced to close due to environmental contamination the government must act swiftly and must act decisively. Among the health impacts of landfill fires are both cancer and higher mortality rates for pregnant mothers and babies. It’s not just the smoke that’s the problem but what that smoke contains, there is the potential here for residents of the area to experience long term health issues as a consequence of these potential pollutants. These fires are not just an inconvenience they are a well-established threat to life. The government must move swiftly in meeting their responsibilities under Article 12, subsection 2 (a) and (b) of the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for:

(a) The provision for the reduction of the stillbirth-rate and of infant mortality and for the healthy development of the child;

Human Rights are indivisible, this means that if one human right is impacted all human rights are impacted. If you improve the access to one right, you improve the access to all rights and, conversely, if you restrict the access to one right this has a negative impact on all other rights.

These landfill site fires in Providenciales has a direct impact upon the health and quality of life of all the residents in the area and this impacts upon other rights. People who get sick cannot go to work, children who are ill cannot make the most of their education, people who cannot open their windows have to rely on air conditioning further impacting upon their personal finances.

Although the government must act quickly to address the current fire at the landfill site it is far more important that they act decisively to prevent a reoccurrence of this in the future. Whatever the real issues that lead to the repeated fires at the landfill site the government has a responsibility under international and domestic law to identify and put in place a permanent solution and to protect the lives and livelihoods of the residents and their children.

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Article 6

States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life.
States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.

Release: TCI Human Rights Commission

News

Better Products, Safer Services Targeted Under National Quality Plan

Published

4 days ago

June 9, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

Government Advances Policy Aimed at Consumer Protection and Higher Business Standards

By Deandrea Hamilton

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — Efforts to improve product quality, strengthen consumer protections and raise business standards across the Turks and Caicos Islands are moving into a new phase as government advances implementation of its National Quality Policy.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Fair Competition announced that a team of consultants spent a week in the Turks and Caicos Islands meeting with key public and private sector stakeholders as part of the policy’s implementation process.

Approved by Cabinet in October 2024, the National Quality Policy is designed to establish a national quality infrastructure that supports trade, protects consumers and improves the competitiveness of local businesses.

For consumers, the long-term goal is straightforward: greater confidence that products and services meet accepted standards for quality, safety and reliability.

For businesses, the initiative aims to encourage stronger quality management systems that can improve efficiency, build customer trust and create opportunities for expansion into regional and international markets.

During the May 25 to 29 mission, consultants met with representatives from the National Quality Council, Pelican Energy TCI, the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority, the TCI Government Laboratory, the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association and Turks Head Brewery.

According to the Department, the consultations were intended to assess existing quality-related systems, identify gaps and gather recommendations that will help shape the Territory’s national quality infrastructure.

“The policy serves as a strategic framework for establishing a national quality infrastructure in the Turks and Caicos Islands, aimed at improving quality standards, supporting trade, protecting consumers, and enhancing economic competitiveness,” the Department said in a statement.

Officials explained that stakeholder feedback will help determine what systems, standards and programmes are needed to strengthen quality assurance across various sectors of the economy.

The Department said the information gathered will guide the next stage of implementation and help ensure the policy delivers meaningful benefits throughout the Islands.

Among the initiatives expected to emerge from the process are a Quality Certification Programme and a series of educational workshops designed to help businesses understand and adopt quality standards.

A second round of stakeholder consultations is scheduled for June, allowing government and industry representatives to continue discussions and further assess priority areas identified during the initial mission.

Officials say the ultimate objective is to build a culture of quality that benefits consumers, businesses and the wider economy by encouraging higher standards, greater accountability and improved competitiveness.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

News

240 Migrants Interdicted in TCI Waters; Regiment says Mission Averted Potential Maritime Tragedy

Published

4 days ago

June 9, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

By Deandrea Hamilton

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — Startling video released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection showing hundreds of suspected Haitian migrants crammed aboard an overloaded vessel has renewed concerns about the worsening migration crisis in the region and the increasing pressure being placed on the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The vessel, carrying 240 irregular migrants, was intercepted in Turks and Caicos waters on the night of May 31, in a joint operation involving the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, the TCI Border Force, the United States Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations.

Earlier reports from U.S. authorities revealed that the vessel was discovered in a dangerously overcrowded condition and was ultimately secured and escorted to shore by local marine officers.

Now, a newly released statement from the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment sheds additional light on the operation and the risks involved.

According to the Regiment, Patrol Vessel James Fulford interdicted the vessel at approximately 9:33 p.m. within territorial waters before authorities determined the situation was far more serious than a routine migrant interception.

“Upon evaluating the migrant vessel, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force immediately upgraded the operation to a critical incident, prioritizing Safety of Life at Sea protocols to avert a maritime disaster,” the statement explained.

The migrants were identified as 191 adult males, 44 adult females, one male minor and four female minors.

All 240 individuals were safely transferred to authorities for processing, health assessments and security screening.

Lieutenant Colonel Ennis Grant, Commanding Officer of the TCI Regiment, praised the coordinated response among local and international agencies.

“This mission underscores the efficacy of our multi-agency partnerships. The rapid transition of this operation from a standard interdiction task to a high-priority Safety of Life at Sea intervention demonstrates the professionalism and readiness of our joint forces. By working in seamless tandem with our U.S. partners, we successfully prevented a potential maritime tragedy.”

The incident highlights the continuing humanitarian and security challenges facing the Turks and Caicos Islands as instability, gang violence and economic hardship continue to drive migration from Haiti.

While much larger nations often dominate regional migration discussions, the latest interdiction demonstrates the outsized role the Turks and Caicos Islands continues to play on the front line of Caribbean migration enforcement.

The Regiment said it remains committed to securing the country’s maritime borders through persistent surveillance and strong inter-agency cooperation.

The interception is among the largest migrant landings recorded in the Turks and Caicos Islands this year and serves as another reminder of the dangerous journeys many Haitians continue to undertake in search of safety and opportunity.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

News

How Misick Fell Short of The UN’s Worst Corruption Standard

Published

4 days ago

June 9, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

Judge Cites Kofi Annan, But Finds No Evidence Defendants Caused the Wider Harm Described by the Former UN Chief

By Deandrea Hamilton

Turks and Caicos, June 9, 2026 – One week after former Premier Michael Misick, former Cabinet minister McAllister Hanchell and attorney Thomas “Chal” Misick began serving prison sentences in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ landmark corruption case, attention is turning to a significant distinction made by Justice Rajendra Narine during sentencing.

In imposing prison terms on May 29, the judge agreed that corruption is a serious offence capable of causing profound societal harm. Yet he also found that there was no evidence the three convicted men caused the sweeping consequences described in one of the world’s most famous condemnations of corruption.

The quotation came from former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who famously wrote:

“Corruption is an insidious plague that has a wide range of corrosive effects on societies. It undermines democracy and the rule of law, leads to violations of human rights, distorts markets, erodes the quality of life and allows organized crime, terrorism and other threats to human security to flourish.”

Annan further observed:

“This evil phenomenon is found in all countries — big and small, rich and poor — but it is in the developing world that its effects are most destructive.”

Justice Narine acknowledged the quotation but drew an important distinction between the broad consequences of corruption described by Annan and the evidence presented during the trial.

“The court agrees that there is no evidence in this case that the offending parties actually caused or contributed to any of the harmful consequences described in the quotation,” Narine said.

The finding did not spare the defendants from prison.

The judge made clear that the offences remained serious enough to warrant immediate custodial sentences.

“This case was about an abuse of public trust for the sake of personal gain,” Narine stated.

“The conduct of the defendants caused a constitutional crisis and reputational harm to the territory.”

He added that the public interest demanded punishment and deterrence.

“The public interest requires that the sentence must reflect society’s abhorrence of the criminal conduct and the sentence should be such that like-minded potential offenders would be deterred from similar conduct.”

Narine also rejected suggestions that the absence of direct victims diminished the seriousness of the offences, noting that corruption often harms institutions and public confidence rather than identifiable individuals.

At the same time, the court accepted several mitigating factors advanced by the defence.

“The court is aware of the age, middle age of the offenders, that the immediate custodial sentences would have a traumatic effect on the families, understanding the emotional distress involved,” Narine said.

He also agreed that rehabilitation was not a major concern.

“The court agrees with the defence counsel that there is a low risk of reoffending and that the objective of rehabilitation is not a significant factor in this case.”

Those considerations, combined with the extraordinary delay in bringing the matter to conclusion and the defendants’ previous good character, contributed to substantial reductions from the starting points the judge initially considered.

Michael Misick ultimately received an effective sentence of four years and 26 days on three bribery convictions. Hanchell was sentenced to three years on two bribery counts, while Chal Misick received four years on four money laundering convictions.

The legal saga, however, is far from over.

All three men remain in custody while awaiting a June 17 hearing on applications for bail pending appeal. In addition, confiscation proceedings — which could determine what assets or funds may be recoverable by the Crown — are still to come.

For now, the court’s message appears clear: while the conduct warranted prison and public condemnation, Justice Narine was not prepared to conclude that the defendants’ actions produced the full range of societal devastation described in Annan’s warning about corruption.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.