TCI News
TCI: PNP’s Response to FAC’s Recommendations – April 2019
#Providenciales, April 20, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Global Britain and the British Overseas Territories: Resetting the relationship – The Progressive National Party’s Position – Global Britain – is the term coined to capture the UK’s post-Brexit foreign policy. The fact that a review of its relationship with its’ territories in the Caribbean is being considered within the context of its foreign policy is indicative of its historic thinking regarding the Caribbean Overseas Territories: they have always been used as pawns in the UK geopolitical chess game. This latest recommendation is no different and is driven by the UK post Brexit strategy regarding its future on the world stage.
In the case of the Turks and Caicos Islands the UK has always played constitutional “fast and loose” while in many cases refusing to take responsibility for its reserved powers beyond the imposition of sanctions. These include the suspension of the Country’s constitution on two occasions. The results in each case has always pivoted away from the best interest of the people of these Islands. The most recent resulting in the resetting of the economic hegemony in favour of foreign interest; and an ongoing legal price tag that is significantly disproportionate to the GDP of the islands thereby impacting its’ ability to adequately fund much needed social programs.
Given the history of the relationship between the UK and her Caribbean Overseas Territories; and the current preoccupation by British Politicians with Brexit and its consequences, the FAC report and most of its recommendations appear to have as its intention the appeasement of Caribbean Overseas Territory Governments as a pretext to persuade them to legalise same sex marriage and expand the franchise in the various territories. This view is supported by the myriad of other issues raised in the report requiring institutional and other fundamental changes in the relationship before any of them could be attained, assuming the UK were inclined to oblige. In contrast, the same sex marriage and expansion of the franchise issues merely require their passage into law by the House of Assembly, or imposition by order in council by the UK Parliament. However, on these two issues the Progressive National Party is resolute in its opposition. We reproduce these two recommendations verbatim and set out below our reasons for our objections.
Recommendation 13
The Government should set a date by which it expects all OTs to have legalised same-sex marriage. If that deadline is not met, the Government should intervene through legislation or an Order in Council.
A review of the FAC report leads one to conclude that UK politicians are engaged in a strategy of attrition to neutralise the authority of elected politicians and marginalise the voice of the indigenous people of the Caribbean Overseas Territories instead of resetting their thinking to accommodate and recognise the cultural diversity of places and people for whom they have responsibility in the international community.
It is insensitive and imperialistic to threaten through whatever means the imposition of standardise cultural values of the UK and Europe on UK Caribbean Overseas Territories by persons unelected by them, and who cannot identify with their past or understand their aspiration. After all, one of the main arguments of the Brexiteers are that the UK membership in the EU undermines British Sovereignty because of Europe’s ability to legislate and make policy decisions binding on the UK. The view by the FAC for the Caribbean Overseas Territories is in direct contrast to what Britain wants for itself.
The recommendations of the FAC to legalise same sex marriage in the Caribbean Overseas Territories is also hypocritical and is inconsistent with what obtains in the UK. This is demonstrated by way of two examples. Chris Bryant a member of the committee and an openly gay member of the commons left the ordained ministry because his conscience dictated that a gay lifestyle was incompatible with the priesthood. The people of the Overseas Territories also have the God given right to exercise their collective conscience to choose for themselves on which side of this issue they should stand. The hyperbolic metaphor of Matthew 7:5 “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” is also appropriate here given the continuing ban on same-sex marriage in the British Territory of Northern Ireland.
Duplicitous standards is now common practice by the UK Parliament in how Caribbean Overseas Territories are treated compared with for example European Crown Dependencies as evidenced in the push for Public Registries of Interest in the Caribbean Overseas Territories.
Same sex relationship has been decriminalised in the TCI since 2001, and no one had been charged with a related offences decade before that. What people do in the privacy of their own space should be of no concern to anyone else. But to require a country to legislate behaviour contrary to their belief system is a violation of their rights and must be resisted to its fullest. Many of us have family members and friends with same sex preferences. This does not interfere with our empathy or love for them but when same sex marriage is regarded by the majority of Turks and Caicos Islanders as being anathema to the direct admonition of God to whom we believe we owe our greatest loyalty, any attempt to force it into law is contrary to the will of the people and will be resisted by the PNP. Turks and Caicos Islands must now take a stand even if it means ending the relationship as we now know it.
Recommendation 14
The UK Government should initiate a consultation with the elected governments of the OTs and work with them to agree a plan to ensure that there is a pathway for all resident UK and British Overseas Territory citizens to be able to vote and hold elected office in territory. In its response to this report the FCO should lay out a timetable for this consultation process and set a deadline for phasing out discriminatory elements of belongership, or its territory-specific equivalents.
The FAC recommendations that the franchise be expanded to include UK citizen and BOTC citizens resident in the islands again betrays the hypocrisy of their intent. The the premise on which it is based is a non-sequitur and in direct contrast to Britain’s xenophobic vote to leave the European Union. The difference is that Britain’s population is somewhere north of 67 million people compared with 35 thousand in the Turks and Caicos of which an estimated 55% are non-Turks and Caicos Islanders. This gap will widen as the economy of the islands grow and the demand for labour grows with it. Organic growth in the number of persons qualifying for status will mean that the franchise will automatically be broaden. Turks and Caicos Islanders with heritage rights will therefore become a very minor fraction of the population in the future. The Progressive National Party will not accede to the FAC agenda of political and cultural marginalisation by accelerating the dilution of the franchise.
Gender neutral policies and legislation favouring individuals belonging to vulnerable groups are evident everywhere including the many affirmative action laws in the US in favour of African Americans and Native Americans. Legislation and policies in Canada favour First Nation People. This practice is referred to as positive discrimination and is important for social and economic justice. This right is preserved in the Constitution of the Turks & Caicos Islands and must not be tampered with.
The TCI have several pathways to citizenship including through investment, marriage, and residency. – attainment of citizenship status in some cases is as short as five years. Relaxing the rules on who may vote and hold office in the Turks and Caicos Islands is a recipe for wholesale takeover of the Islands and the relegation of the indigenous people to the margins of society – especially given the current lack of access to capital and other resources for positive growth within the Territory.
As part of resetting the relationship between its Caribbean Overseas Territories UK politicians need to reset their own thinking and Global Britain should respect the rights of Caribbean Overseas Territories to disagree on fundamental questions of value pathway to citizenship, and population policy. The benefit derived by the Turks and Caicos through its relationship with the UK after Brexit is mostly intangible. Failure to respect the rights of the Turks and Caicos people is therefore an invitation to self-determination; one that the Progressive National Party takes seriously and on which it will act with the support of the people.
Press Statement from the Leader of the Opposition
By Deandrea Hamilton
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — The dramatic decline in murders may have captured public attention, but newly
released Year in Review graphics from Police Commissioner Fitz Bailey reveal a much broader policing strategy that the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force says is producing measurable results across the territory.
Among the standout achievements highlighted in the Commissioner’s 2025-2026 review is the recovery of 22 illegal firearms and more than 500 rounds of ammunition during 2025. The graphics also show that four additional illegal firearms were seized during the first quarter of 2026.
The Police Force credits proactive policing, intelligence-led operations and community partnerships with helping remove weapons from the streets and reducing opportunities for violence.
The review also points to what may be the most significant statistic in the package: a 61 percent reduction in overall crime. While the graphics do not provide a detailed breakdown of offences contributing to that decline, the figure suggests improvements extended well beyond homicide investigations and into broader categories of criminal activity.
Other accomplishments cited include strengthened border security operations, the detention of more than 1,100 irregular migrants, the dismantling of illegal settlements, the launch of a Human Trafficking Unit and expanded highway patrol initiatives.
The Force also highlighted increased engagement with communities through schools, churches and outreach programmes, investments in officer training and professional development, and modernization of information technology and communications systems.
For the tourism-dependent Turks and Caicos Islands, the review sought to reassure visitors that the destination remains safe. Police recorded 43 incidents involving tourists during the review period, including 18 offences against the person, 23 property-related offences and two offences against the state.
Using annual visitor estimates of approximately two million arrivals, the Force argues that tourists remain overwhelmingly safe while vacationing in the territory.
The review also confirms the much-publicized reduction in murders. According to the data, murders fell from 48 in 2024 to 27 in 2025,
representing a 43.75 percent decline. The graphics further indicate that no murders were recorded during the first quarter of 2026.
While the figures paint a picture of improving public safety, they also raise questions that many residents will likely want answered as the conversation turns from crime reduction to criminal accountability.
Notably absent from the review are statistics related to arrests, charge rates, case clearances, prosecutions and convictions. The graphics demonstrate that crime is declining and that firearms are being removed from communities, but they do not indicate how many suspects were arrested in connection with major crimes, how many cases resulted in charges, or how many offenders were ultimately convicted before the courts.
Those metrics have long been viewed as important measures of police effectiveness, particularly in serious crimes such as murder, shootings, robberies and firearms offences. While the latest review focuses heavily on outcomes and operational achievements, future reporting on arrest and conviction rates may provide a more complete picture of how successfully the criminal justice system is converting police investigations into courtroom victories.
Still, Commissioner Bailey’s review makes a clear argument: that a combination of proactive policing, strategic enforcement, border security initiatives and community engagement has contributed to a safer Turks and Caicos Islands.
News
Third Woman in Succession to Lead TCI Judiciary; New Chief Justice Brings 37 Years of Experience
Turks and Caicos, June 1, 2026 – The Turks and Caicos Islands has entered a new chapter in its judicial history with the appointment of
Hon. Madam Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards as Chief Justice, marking the third consecutive female leader of the nation’s judiciary and continuing more than a decade of women serving in the territory’s highest judicial office.
Justice Cummings-Edwards formally assumed office on May 1, 2026, succeeding former Chief Justice Hon. Justice Mabel Agyemang, whose six-year tenure was credited with significant reforms aimed at strengthening the courts and improving access to justice.
A native of Guyana, Justice Cummings-Edwards brings more than 37 years of legal and judicial experience to the role. Before arriving in the Turks and Caicos Islands, she served in some of the highest judicial offices in Guyana, including Acting Chief Justice and Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary. She also earned recognition for advancing court modernization, digitization, improved case management systems and expanded access to justice.
The appointment, announced by Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam following the advice of the Judicial Services Commission, brings to the Turks and Caicos Islands a jurist widely respected throughout the Caribbean legal community.
In announcing the appointment, the Governor said it followed a rigorous and highly competitive selection process and noted that Justice
Cummings-Edwards’ appointment “reaffirms the enduring importance of an independent judiciary in upholding the rule of law, protecting constitutional governance and maintaining public confidence in the administration of justice.”
Accepting the appointment, Justice Cummings-Edwards said: “I am honoured to be appointed Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands and grateful for the confidence placed in me. I look forward to working collaboratively with my judicial colleagues, the legal profession and justice-sector partners to build on the strong foundation established and to further strengthen the delivery of justice in a manner that is fair, efficient and accessible to all.”
She added: “I remain committed to upholding the rule of law and serving the people of these Islands with integrity and dedication.”
Attorney General Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles welcomed the new Chief Justice at her swearing-in ceremony, describing her as a judicial leader with “extensive judicial experience, a strong commitment to the rule of law, and to strengthening the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Judiciary.”
Justice Cummings-Edwards’ appointment continues a notable trend in the Turks and Caicos Islands, where women have occupied the office of Chief Justice for more than a decade, reinforcing the territory’s reputation for strong female leadership at the highest levels of the judiciary.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
Turks and Caicos, June 1, 2026 – As the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins today, Turks and Caicos Islanders are being encouraged to prepare both practically and spiritually, with national disaster officials launching a series of island-wide prayer services while government agencies finalize readiness plans for the months ahead.
The Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) kicked off its annual hurricane season prayer initiative on Sunday, May
31, with a service at Providence Baptist Church in North Caicos. The initiative reflects the country’s longstanding tradition of seeking divine protection at the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.
The prayer circuit will continue on June 7 at Abundant Life Ministries International in Providenciales, June 14 at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in South Caicos, June 21 at the Church of God of Prophecy in Conch Bar, Middle Caicos, and conclude on June 28 at St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Grand Turk.
While churches unite in prayer, government agencies are strengthening operational readiness.
On May 28, Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam chaired the first State of Preparedness Meeting for the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, bringing together key government officials, emergency responders, utility providers and critical infrastructure partners ahead of the June 1 start of the season.
According to the Governor’s Office, representatives from the DDME, Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment, healthcare and emergency services, along with utility and infrastructure leaders, reviewed national readiness plans, shelter preparedness, continuity of essential services, inter-agency coordination and response strategies.
The Governor emphasized the importance of proactive preparation, coordination and public awareness to ensure the Turks and Caicos Islands remains resilient throughout the hurricane season.
The discussions come as forecasters at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, predict a below-normal Atlantic
hurricane season for 2026. NOAA says there is a 55 percent chance of a below-normal season, a 35 percent chance of a near-normal season and a 10 percent chance of an above-normal season. Forecasters are predicting between eight and 14 named storms, including three to six hurricanes and one to three major hurricanes.
Despite the relatively favorable outlook, NOAA officials continue to caution against complacency.
“Although El Niño’s impact in the Atlantic Basin can often suppress hurricane development, there is still uncertainty in how each season will unfold,” said National Weather Service Director Ken Graham. “That is why it’s essential to review your hurricane preparedness plan now. It only takes one storm to make for a very bad season.”
For Turks and Caicos, that message resonates strongly. The islands remain among the Caribbean territories most vulnerable to hurricanes, and memories of major storms such as Hurricanes Ike, Irma and Maria continue to underscore the importance of preparedness.
As hurricane season opens, officials are urging residents to secure emergency supplies, review family preparedness plans, stay informed through official channels and participate in community readiness efforts. And for many across the islands, that preparation begins with prayer.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
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