TCI News
TCI: Native Doctor appointed as country’s first dedicated Nephrologist
#Providenciales, February 18, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital is pleased to announce the appointment of Grand Turk Native, Doctor Vancelee Forbes as the country’s first full-time Nephrologist.
Dr Forbes is specialized in renal and general internal medicine and has served across both medical disciplines at the health care facility since 2014. In recent years, she adopted a part-time Nephrology consultant role. The introduction of a dedicated Nephrologist is a strategic initiative facilitated by InterHealth Canada in partnership with TCI Government, to strengthen the prevention and management of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
The number of patients diagnosed with the condition has increased over the years. In order to further enhance the quality of care and mitigate these trends, the private health care management company submitted a multifaceted, evidence-based proposal to TCI Government requesting support to develop the renal service.
CKD is defined as abnormalities of kidney structure or function, present for more than 3 months with health implications. Over 90% of kidney failure in the Turks and Caicos Islands is caused by diabetes or hypertension. Most diabetes and hypertension can be prevented through healthy lifestyles. CKD is irreversible and tends to be progressive. The last stage of CKD is kidney failure. Once a person develops kidney failure, he/she will require renal replacement therapy in order to survive. Three renal replacement therapies are currently available. These are renal transplantation, haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
A stakeholder meeting was held on Wednesday, February 13th 2019 with dialysis patients and other health care stakeholders. The meeting was well-received and patients expressed optimism about the future strategic advancement of renal services and transplantation opportunities. Dr. Forbes outlined the process and challenges encountered with the current renal transplantation program and potential solutions, which require a multi-sectoral approach.
Dr Forbes also announced the development of a Peritoneal Dialysis program, which is a home-based form of renal replacement treatment for interested and eligible patients. The treatment option will be covered under the National Health Insurance Plan. Nearly 50 patients are currently required to visit the country’s outpatient haemodialysis centres at TCI Hospital as frequent as three-times per week to undergo lifesaving treatment for kidney disease.
The first haemodialysis unit was opened in Grand Turk to accommodate six patients in 1995 followed by a second unit on Providenciales in 2006. InterHealth Canada assumed the management of the country’s renal services in 2010 with two modern outpatient haemodialysis units across both islands. There were 25 patients undergoing dialysis treatment upon the commencement of services in 2010, and the number of patients has since doubled.
Dr Forbes is the daughter of Mr Darius Forbes and Retired Chief Nursing Officer Pastor Mary Forbes who pioneered the development of the renal services within the Turks and Caicos Islands over two decades ago.
Release: InterHealth Canada
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)
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