TCI News
Editorial: Listen to your Mama
#Providenciales, August 23, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – I won’t pretend I know why, but people often fall victim to the thought that ‘bad things, terrible things will not happen to me’ and yet, bad things, terrible things tend to always prove that theory wrong. Things happen – good and bad – to everyone.
When it comes to how, perhaps as younger people, we tend to underestimate the gravity of the way we are behaving and the choices we are making. Then, in steps this wonderful and wise woman; Momma.
Gatta love those Mommas. They are amazing. Doggedly determined to care for us and to see us make choices and behave in a way that ensures we are also caring for ourselves.
They wiped our little butts when we were babes and would still wipe our butts if we couldn’t do it ourselves as grown-ups.
More often than not, Mamas are amazing.
Still, when it comes to what we want to do, when and how we want to do it we shirk their training, ignore their beckoning for us to do better and actually see them as annoying, nagging, overbearing, overreaching and down-right dictators.
But hear me now; it is so often proven that Mama knows best and that her experiences have taught her how to guide her children to right living and a successful life.
I recently learned of a young man who in trying to help a friend or two, got himself into unbelievably major trouble. It was so bad that every road pointed to a painful, grueling experience for him and his family including his Mama.
A path was chosen and that path has put this young man in a place that is certainly not home. It is so unlike the loving home from which he came that it is making him physically sick. It has put his entire family in a state of shock and depression, it has turned his world upside down and it has broken the heart of his beloved Mama.
No one is exempt when it comes to treachery reaching our doors steps. As someone said, ‘we all live in glass houses’.
I didn’t listen to my Momma too.
In my case, I married a man who was possessive and abusive and the marriage lasted just a couple of years. I am mentally and emotionally fine now, but my world financially and physically was rocked.
I believe because my Mama never gave up on me, despite my sometimes, rude defiance, I am alive today. I mustered the sense and courage to exit that dangerous stage and take a hold of my life and latch onto the potential she has always told me I have… ‘Sky is the Limit DeeDee’ she would say.
Nowadays, I call my mother for her advice. I seek her out to hear her opinion on any major decision and I even like her perspective on the minor matters of my life.
I now listen to my Mama.
The young man, who inspired my musings is incarcerated today at Her Majesty’s Prison. And I am told that above all the regrets and emotions with which he is dealing – top of his mind are thoughts about his Mama.
He is sorry that he did not heed her advice and most of all sorry that his indiscretion, that is his lack of good judgement is causing his Mama, great pain.
Still, I believe the man was spared. I believe it would have been a worse outcome for him and I believe that our good God stepped in for him as he did for me, to bring a dramatic end to disregard for his Mama’s loving counsel.
There is always potential for a Phoenix experience; many do rise from the ashes and get a second chance to value the advice of their amazing Mama.
This man will too. It is what I pray for and what I believe. To Mamas everywhere. I salute you… you are amazing!
You will find the latest TCI News right here on Magnetic Media fanpage, including August 23, 2019 edition of Turks and Caicos News Daily. Our social media newspaper which today features crime news, tropics update and consumer news from FortisTCI and NCS Financial Group with their new product VIGO. Read it. Love it. Share it.
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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 20 February 2026 — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in collaboration with key
government agencies, coordinated a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Block and Parcel 60609/33 in the Five Cays area.
The exercise was led by the Crown Land Unit, pursuant to its statutory mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land. The ISU coordinated the operation, with support provided by the Planning Department and the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, while the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force ensured security throughout the activity.
The enforcement action followed a series of inspections conducted by the Crown Land Unit throughout Five Cays, which identified several illegally constructed buildings made of concrete and timber on sections of the subject parcel. In keeping with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance, occupied structures were served Letters of Illegal Occupation, delivered by hand to occupants and
posted on structures where individuals were absent. Incomplete and unoccupied structures were served Notices of Unauthorized Occupation pursuant to section 22 of the Ordinance. A total of ten (10) Letters of Illegal Occupation and three (3) Notices of Unauthorized Occupation were issued during the exercise.
The Informal Settlements Unit reiterates that these coordinated enforcement exercises form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the law, protect Crown land, and manage informal settlements in a structured and lawful manner. Members of the public are reminded that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown land is unlawful and subject to enforcement action.
Almost two million visitors recorded in 2025
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – The Turks and Caicos Islands saw an increase in stayover arrivals in December, seven percent higher than the corresponding period in 2024.
Preliminary data suggests that stay over arrivals by air for the month of December was 66,427 in comparison to 62,610 in December 2024.
From January to December 2025, preliminary visitor arrival numbers totalled 640,754; on par with the number recorded for the same period of 2024.
Stay Over Arrivals YTD December 2024/2025
The first quarter of the calendar year attracted the largest number of arrivals with visitor arrivals three percent higher than the first quarter of 2024. Reduced airlift from the United Kingdom and the United States, most notably the Virgin Atlantic and JetBlue services, was however felt from the second quarter (April to June). As a result, visitor arrivals dropped three percent in the second quarter.
By the third quarter of this year (July to September), geopolitical and economic conditions in the key source markets, namely the United States, led to further contraction of arrivals. In the last quarter of 2025, arrivals were impacted in October due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa but additional airlift from the USA and Canada resulted in an increase in arrivals in November and December.
Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant of Experience Turks and Caicos, said December’s increase in stayover arrivals is an encouraging indicator of the sustained interest in the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier destination.
“While we note and continue to monitor geopolitical shifts that affect us, Experience Turks and Caicos is focused on increasing marketing initiatives in our primary source markets. We have spent the last two years investing in groundwork such as crucial travel advisor training to assist them in selling the destination more effectively. In the next fiscal, we will be building on those initiatives with co-op activities with partners as well as out of home advertising to increase visitation to our destination,” he said.
In Cruise, the preliminary count of passenger arrivals for the month of December 2025 was 129,346, a 22 percent increase over last December. This growth follows the berthing of 11 additional ships in Grand Turk this month.
From January to December, the cruise sector continued to outperform the same period last year, as the 1.3 million total cruise passengers recorded, marks a five percent Year-on-Year increase. 
The cruise sector experienced significant growth in the first quarter of 2025, with passenger arrivals surpassing last quarter by 53 percent. In the second and third quarter however, several cruise lines adjusted their itineraries as vessels were pulled from the fleet or from the Caribbean region, which resulted in fewer passengers.
Arrivals dropped seven percent and 10 percent in the second and third quarters, respectively. Double digit growth was recorded in the last two months of Quarter 4. This growth however, was not sufficient to outweigh the drop in arrivals experienced in October, following the cancellation of cruise calls due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Despite the late-quarter rebound, arrivals for the final quarter of 2025 closed six percent below the same period in 2024.
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