TCI News
TCI: Baby dies at Hospital ER, investigation activated says Health Minister Astwood; social media exposed the tragedy
#Providenciales, April 6, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The story posted on Facebook by Deandrea Stubbs on Thursday night says there was no sense of urgency when it came to a woman and her three-day-old baby boy who was reportedly bleeding from the mouth when they visited the Emergency Room of the Cheshire Hall Medical Center for treatment on Wednesday; a short time later, that woman’s newborn son was dead.
Magnetic Media and many others were tagged about the incident in the post on social media.
The writer explains that the woman, who had given birth to the child on March 31, 2019 at the very same facility was told to “wait” because staff members were changing shift.
“I am greatly saddened and I’m not even a mother yet, how could the staff in the emergency room be so trifling. The negligence of the nurses and front desk leave me to question what is considered an emergency at a hospital. To carry and love a child in your womb for nine months, give birth to that child, hold that child; only to lose him waiting for someone whose job is to help; HELP YOU!”
The anguish of the post has elicited many, many responses and reactions.
Thursday night, we reached out to InterHealth Canada and the Minister of Health; both have responded.
“The matter has been referred to the coroner in accordance with standard procedure. The neonate was born at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and discharged with no health complications. Due to patient confidentiality, no further information can be released.”
Neonate, as used by InterHealth Canada, in reference to the woman’s dead baby boy means ‘a newborn child or other mammal.’
“The management of InterHealth Canada – Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital is currently conducting a review of the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate passing of a 3-day-old neonate who presented to the emergency department on April 3rd, 2019. Efforts were made to resuscitate the patient without success.”
InterHealth Canada said their deepest thoughts and prayers are with the family.
For the woman who exposed the situation this kind of response is not enough… Ms. Stubbs, with others, is calling for real action.
“This is something that should NOT be swept under the rug. There are many complaints about this hospital and it is time for us to do something about it. We need to reveal the things that are happening to people, and this hospital needs to do a better job at helping people in this country. Flying out or waiting for hours for some disgruntled doctor or nurse to poke and jab at you should not be the only options. A Doctor or Nurse should be; and are meant to be passionate about their job in saving lives not waiting for your next paycheck; we need more good doctors and nurses to help the few that we do have.”
Minister Edwin Astwood has admitted that he too is familiar with the complaints about a lack of expedient care and in a statement said there is an investigation now launched.
“The Ministry has reported this matter to the Service Review Board for urgent investigating. We are alarmed and concern about these, now too frequent, reports of delays in medical care and attention coming from persons seeking care at IHC hospitals here in the TCI. This is made worse when a death occurs around the time that the appearance of non-attention is being observed. As health professionals, we should always put the patient/client first, and always seek to provide immediate care and attention in order to ascertain if urgent actions are required, and respond accordingly. I am personally saddened by this death of this infant, and will be seeking guidance from my Ministry and the Service Review Board on this most unfortunate occurrence,” said Minister Astwood.
We join with the chorus of others as Magnetic Media also expresses our deepest condolences on what has to be a most shocking and heartbreaking loss.
#magneticmedianews
#3daybabyboydiesiner
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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