Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

The Turks and Caicos has recorded the 12th murder of the year following the May 8 discovery of a body in Five Cays, Providenciales. News of the incident came late afternoon on Wednesday when police swarmed the area putting up caution tape and blocking off a home where the shooting reportedly took place.

Residents spoke to Wilkie  Arthur, Magnetic Media Court Correspondent, at the scene lamenting the loss of the man whom they described as quiet and unproblematic.

Videos and photos captured at the scene exposed the police armored vehicle arriving at the murder scene, significant police presence and medical emergency personnel.

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) says it got calls about gunshots at 4:06 pm Wednesday; when police rushed to the destination along Fisheries Road, Five Cays they found the body of the young man.

Head of  Crime, Safeguarding, Public Protection and Intelligence Superintendent Dean Holden, said, “The victim has been identified, but his name is being withheld whilst all family members are traced and informed.”

We learned that the man is a long time employee of Graceway Supermarkets.  A 37-year old working in the food service department of the company.  He is also the brother of Linco Lightbourne, who was gunned down mere weeks ago, on April 20 in the Bight.

We are also told, the man is a father of two.

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

The Bahamian Government, through the Electricity Bill 2024 and Natural Gas Bill 2024, is moving to create more equity in its energy sector, to end a system where households pay more than large businesses.

Speaking during a debate on the Bill, at the House of Assembly, on May 1, Energy and Transport Minister, JoBeth Coleby-Davis said the Bahamas Power and Light (BPL’s) tariff rates have been in place since 2010, and persons she described as the “least able to pay” are being burdened.

She said a study of the rates is being done to establish effective prices and classifications, noting that the island has grown since the current tariff came into effect. “With this growth comes an increase in demand, and at all times, BPL must find means and ways to provide access to electricity, with annual forecasted demand growth at a steady three to five per cent annually,” the Minister said.

Stressing that “there is an urgent need for a tariff review and adjustments,” she said it will   ensure that “we are fairly distributing rates, that they are more flat and equitable,” and the existing BPL rates will be maintained for the next three years while the review is ongoing.

 The Minister told the House that if BPL seeks to modify its rates before the end of the three years, it must convince the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), before the change.

Minister Coleby- Davis pointed out that a section of the Electricity Bill that allowed the BPL and other electricity providers to charge different tariffs and prices to different groups of customers for a transition period of three years without approval from URCA, has been amended.

She said it is to “ensure that URCA’s continued role in approving tariff changes under section 38(8) remains steadfast and unaltered. Some have said that URCA is being cut out as regulator, particularly regarding the approval of tariffs. This is not the case,” the Minister said. 

The Natural Gas Bill will among other things, expand URCA’s oversight to include the natural gas sector, and Minister Coleby- Davis said the scope of regulation regarding fuel charges was unclear, leading to ambiguities in oversight, so the  Bill  aims to eliminate the uncertainties by explicitly stating that “URCA regulates all rates and scales of charges for all licensees,” and the Government reform of the energy sector, is a firm commitment to fair play.

“This is particularly relevant as liquified natural gas (LNG) is likely to become a significant fuel source for electricity generation, and URCA’s oversight in this area could lead to more efficient and potentially lower-cost electricity production, benefiting the entire energy sector,” the Minister said.

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer 

After millions of people took the AstraZeneca vaccine as their choice of vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization announced that  it is withdrawing its vaccines from the market worldwide, effective as of May 7 as it was reported to cause serious side effects.

It is said 170 countries received doses of AstraZeneca; it was expected 35.3 million doses would be shared with 36 Caribbean and Latin American countries through the COVAX program, according to PAHO. 

First reported by the Telegraph, the side effects are identified as blood clots and low blood platelet counts. In fact, the medical issues have reportedly been linked to 81 confirmed deaths in the UK alone. Many others are suffering some other medical injury due to the vaccine popularized as an answer to the then new virus.

AstraZeneca is also being sued by more than 45 affected people. 

The vaccine, known as Vaxzevria, the Telegraph informs, can no longer be used in the European Union and it will be the same for other countries and the UK in the coming months. Over 17 million doses made it into EU countries. 

Reports say AstraZeneca made the revelations of the side effects in court documents, adding that the withdrawal of their vaccine is also due to a decrease in demand.