TCI News
TCI: Firefighters stand strong, happy with meeting with Premier & Governor
#Providenciales, August 10, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Eighteen firefighters from the Providenciales International Airport were on Friday able to have a one-hour meeting with the Governor, Premier and the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority, TCIAA which brought an amicable end to a 26-hour strike.
Twenty of the airport fire crew walked off the job on Thursday around 1:30 pm demanding better hours, fair compensation and an improved work site.
“We came to an agreement and everything is sorted out.”
Earlier in the day, the same firefighter was far less contented with his role at the fire station at the aerodrome. He explained to Magnetic Media that the hours were exhaustingly long, which inhibited his alertness at work. The young man said the conditions at the fire station were deplorable. Broken toilet, broken faucet, broken air conditioning, broken stove and broken microwave for men and women who sometimes spent well over 12-hours on the job at the country’s busiest airline gateway.
There was also a problem with payment and calculation of overtime.
A meeting was held at 2 pm on Friday, we are told at the Employment Services office on Airport Road and included the Premier, Sharlene Robinson; who is also the minister responsible for airports and Governor, Nigel Dakin.
Conroy Smith, deputy chairman of the TCIAA board of directors represented the Authority.
It was said that following the session, shifts are back to normal, there was agreement for the firefighters to be paid overtime and yesterday; Friday August 9, 2019 the team of 23 men and two women were due to receive a proper stove, working microwave and the second bathroom is to be fixed.
The problem, said the firefighter speaking to Magnetic Media on the assurance of anonymity was “a lack of communication; they didn’t even know what we were dealing with.”
On the day news of the strike reached Magnetic Media, we tried to get a comment from the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority, TCIAA. A reply did come from its CEO, John Smith; in an email he said: “The airport is functioning.”
However, our news organization was given a report contrary to Mr. Smith’s assessment of the situation at the Providenciales International Airport, PLS.
Magnetic Media was informed that some 20 fire fighters decided take strike action and left the airport on Thursday. A skeleton crew remained, but it is said that team which stayed on duty was insufficient to take on the titan-sized British Airways flight. Yet British Airways landed and left the PLS, thankfully without incident, but allegedly without the proper number of fire fighters on the ground.
More than 24-hours after an industrial dispute was activated with a ‘walk out’ by the firefighters, there continued to be no official comment on the matter from the managers of the airport, the TCIAA.
The better news is that the issue, is resolved and immediately following the meeting with the Premier and the Governor, firefighters returned to work to be joined by others.
Yesterday, flights at the Providenciales International Airport recorded hour-long delays and some flights were reportedly cancelled.
Fortunately, news of a return to ‘normal’ was on-time for the private airports like Provo Air Center, which confirmed that arrivals were almost but ultimately not interrupted by the industrial dispute.
The firefighter speaking to Magnetic Media said the workers were very pleased with the outcome, proud that they stood up for better conditions on the job and were grateful to secure an audience with not one, but two country leaders.
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#firefightersbacktowork
Turks and Caicos, October 28, 2025 – We are closely monitoring the impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica, and our thoughts and prayers are with our regional neighbours for their safety and well-being
We are now entering a critical period as Hurricane Melissa advances towards the Turks and Caicos Islands. Current projections indicate that Hurricane Melissa will begin to impact the Turks and Caicos Islands around midday tomorrow, Wednesday, 29th October.
This morning, Her Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Premier chaired a State of Preparedness Meeting. All Government agencies and critical services are mobilised. The safety and protection of every person across our Islands remains our highest priority. Our emergency response teams are prepared and the TCI Regiment is deployed across each of our Islands to support community readiness and immediate response. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are on active duty, with additional officers in North Caicos, Salt Cay, South Caicos and Grand Turk.
At this time, the hurricane is moving north-northeast. The country is expected to experience tropical storm conditions, heavy rainfall and
significant storm surge. The storm surge poses a serious concern for low-lying coastal areas especially along our western and southern coastlines, which may result in coastal flooding. Based on the most current weather projections and anticipated impacts for the Turks and Caicos Islands, the National Executive have agreed the following actions:
1. Evacuation Advisories
Residents in specific low-lying and flood-prone coastal areas are likely to experience significant storm surge of 2-4 feet with accompanying rainfall. Strong advice is now place for residents in these areas to relocate to designated shelters which will be open from 4pm this afternoon. These areas include:
Middle Caicos
- Conch Bar Nearest Shelter: The Community Centre
North Caicos
- Sandy Point Nearest Shelter : Sandy Point Community Centre
- Whitby Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School
- Bottle Creek Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School
Providenciales
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- Chalk Sound Nearest Shelter Enid Capron Primary School
- Five Cays Nearest Shelter: Enid Capron Primary School
- Discovery Bay Nearest Shelter: All Saints Church, Leeward Highway
- Juba Sound Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School
- Long Bay Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School
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South Caicos
- Cockburn Harbour Nearest Shelter: Community Centre
- Old Airport Road Nearest Shelter: Community Centre
Should an evacuation order become necessary, it will be issued following the 6:00 PM Advisory this evening from the TCI National Weather Service.
2. Activation of Emergency Operations Centre
The National Emergency Operations Centre in Providenciales and all Islands Emergency Operations Centres will be activated at 4:00 PM today.
3. Shelters Access
Shelters across all Islands will open today at 4:00 PM to receive members of the public.
4. Shelter-in-Place
A Strong Shelter-in-Place Advisory is in place for all islands, commencing at 10:00 PM tonight. This will be in place until the all clear has been issued.
This means that from 10:00 PM tonight, all residents should be off the road, in a safe location, either at home or a designated shelter.
Please note that this position may be revised following the 6:00 PM Advisory from the TCI National Weather Service, depending on updated storm projections.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) has confirmed that all airports remain fully operational for today. They will advise the public about ongoing operations dependent on the weather impacts.
In times such as this, the role of commercial entities extends beyond business – it becomes a vital part of the community’s resilience. All retailers and service providers are urged to uphold their humanitarian responsibilities by maintaining fair pricing and ensuring essential goods and services remain accessible to all.
Residents and visitors are reminded to adhere strictly to all official advisories and evacuation orders as they are issued. Avoid unnecessary movement, secure your property, and ensure that you and your family are prepared with essential supplies. Stay prepared and stay safe.
Turks and Caicos, October 24, 2025 – Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey delivered an impassioned address to male students at Clement Howell High School, calling on them to recognize their power, seize their potential, and “awaken the sleeping giants” within.
In a message that blended humility, faith, and personal experience, the Commissioner reminded the boys that the decisions they make today will shape their future.“The choices you make today determine who you become tomorrow,” he said.
Bailey, who revealed he was the first in his family to attend high school, urged the students to embrace education and discipline as tools of
transformation.“Knowledge is power. If you want to be a real man, you need to read,” he told them. “Remember your potential — if others can do it, so can you. Some of you are sleeping giants waiting to be awakened.”
He emphasized that circumstances of birth do not dictate destiny, challenging the young men to carry self-respect, faith, and moral conviction wherever they go. “Self-respect is key; respect yourself, respect others, and respect God,” he said. “The circumstances you were born into do not define who you are.”
The Commissioner also spoke about resilience, advising that true strength often lies in restraint.
“There will be challenges, and people may try to impede your development — but rise above negativity. Sometimes, strength means walking away,” he said. “Some of you are sleeping lions; it’s time to awaken that instinct and rediscover your true potential.”
In closing, Commissioner Bailey delivered a stirring challenge:
“Each morning, look in the mirror and remind yourself that you were created by God and are capable of great exploits. You are a possibility with potential. Step forward with confidence — this is your country, your islands. Be the best version of yourself.”
Following his speech, the Commissioner engaged the students in open dialogue, answering questions and listening to their perspectives on issues affecting young men in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.
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