TCI News
PDM downplays leadership challenge; Parnell tells Premier “thank you”
#Providenciales, September 11, 2020 — The People’s Democratic Movement has toned down the glaring truth about this weekend and a party leadership challenge announced as the highlight of the PDM’s 2020 National Convention; that a faction of the party believes it is time for a new captain at the helm of the PDM ship.
In mere hours, the individual who will lead the People’s Democratic Movement into the next Turks and Caicos general election will have been decided by delegates in this weekend’s caucus.
On Monday, the PDM announced a National Convention was slated for September 11-12; however little else was said about what is now shaping up to be a momentous meeting due partly to the coronavirus pandemic and largely to the fact that party leader and sitting premier, Sharlene Robinson is being challenged for that party post by Douglas Parnell.
Robinson is the first female leader of the Opposition, of the PDM party and of the Turks and Caicos Islands. In both the 2012 and 2016 general elections she enjoyed enormous popularity among voters; ranking at the top of the all-island candidates at the polls.
This fact has not fazed Doug Parnell, the PDM National Chairman who unseated the PNP in the Richmond and Cheshire Hall constituency in 2016. Parnell has served as leader of the party before, during the constitutional suspension and UK interim administration of the TCI from 2009 to 2012.
In a six-minute video presentation shared on social media , Parnell gently speaks about a 15-year career where he has faced off with a giant-sized government administration; led the PDM through a global recession; speaks to his service in parliament over the past four years and gives thanks to Sharlene Robinson, “for leading us at this time…”.
“It goes without saying, that I believe I have a fresh perspective in which to offer, a fresh perspective on the challenges we face which if accepted will aide our party in challenging successfully the next general election and winning and I do believe that going forward with the challenges we face, that I am better able to lead this party as well as lead the country through very difficult, difficult times ahead,” said Parnell in the statement which debuted September 10.
Parnell concludes the video by saying the pandemic requires a greater sense of urgency and action. The national chairman told viewers, he can offer that.
Other media comments have strangely uncharacteristic of the feisty, charismatic politician which usually is Doug Parnell. A conspicuous fact given the gravity of the maneuver which happens within striking distance of a general election being called and while his incumbent challenger holds the country’s top elected office.
Even the Premier seems atypically mellow in speaking to the TCI Sun Newspaper; her usual sizzle is missing in her statements to the newspaper. Instead the Premier offers that she was respectfully informed of the challenge, welcomed it as a sign that democracy is alive within the PDM and essentially expressed the contest is not a big deal.
There has been no response to a string of questions directed at the national chairman by Magnetic Media about how the convention will unravel.
COVID-19 protocols have capped gatherings to between 10 and 25 people; require physical distancing measures are applied and restrict evening activity in Providenciales to within an 8pm public health curfew.
How will the nominations be made? How will the votes be cast and tallied? How will the delegates who represent 10 districts from different islands in the chain participate when inter-island travel is restricted? And if there is a virtual session forced by the coronavirus stringencies; will it meet the thresholds of fairness, transparency and constitutionality?
We spoke to some delegates who informed that the convention was a surprise and that many party branches are caught off guard and are therefore disorganized.
The PDM is holding the weekend conclave under the theme: “Victory Ahead.”
UPDATED
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#USA, June 5, 2023 – Kamala Harris, United States Vice President will journey to Nassau Bahamas in June for a
top level meeting with Caribbean leaders, marking the first time she will visit the region since occupying office in 2021.
According to the White House in a statement, the meeting will bring attention to a range of regional issues. Harris and the Caribbean leaders will continue talks on the shared efforts to address the climate crisis, such as promoting climate resilience and adaptation in the region and increasing energy security through clean energy.
Additionally, the statement informed that Harris’ trip “delivers on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advance cooperation with the Caribbean in pursuit of shared prosperity and security, and in recognition of the common bonds and interests between our nations.”
The June 8th meeting builds on and strengthens the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030, which was launched by the Vice President and Caribbean leaders in Los Angeles at the Summit of the Americas as further mentioned by White House Statement.
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, June 5, 2023 – A champion swimmer, marathon runner, Ivy League graduate and world traveler with a huge smile– that is Alexandra Truwit; at only 22 years old, she has a whole life ahead of her, one that may have now been made exponentially harder by the loss of her foot in an incident which continues to be unconfirmed, but reported as a shark attack off the coast of Providenciales.
Magnetic Media learned Truwit, who is a very experienced swimmer, was on a private charter captained by an
employee of Big Blue Collective (not a Big Blue Charter). She was bitten by what eyewitnesses think could have been a Caribbean Reef Shark and her foot below the ankle was completely severed.
It’s a heartbreaking incident exacerbated by the young woman’s obvious love for- and proficiency in- the water.
The Yale website describes Truwit as a Two-time USA Swimming Academic All-American. Featured as a ‘Teen Titan’ in her high school, she was one of ten young people chosen for the school’s magazine.
Truwit, who has a twin brother, cites nail art and baking as her life joys. Already having survived ‘mono’ as a teen, she volunteers as a Special Olympics “hugger” and started a Special Olympics club at her high school.
She was airlifted from the Turks and Caicos on the day of her accident and there have been no updates on her condition so far. Residents in the TCI and the US have expressed via social media their best wishes for the young achiever and must now wait, hoping for the best possible outcome.
One resident said, “So sorry Alexandra you had to encounter such a traumatic experience while on vacation on our beautiful Island. I am praying for a successful surgery and speedy recovery for you, hopefully, the surgeon can work their magic for you.”
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, June 5, 2023 – There are sweeping changes coming to the civil service this year after years of complaints about delays and understaffing.
“For the year 2023/24, the office of the Deputy Governor has a very ambitious public sector transformation centered around improving service delivery and the customer experience.” 
This came from Governors Appointed Member Willin Belliard, as he rose in the budget debates on Thursday May 18 to detail the revamp.
Phase one of E-procurement which will allow for the virtual submission of tenders is to be implemented. Along with that will come E-Jobs, a similar system touted to make job applications virtual, swift and easy.
Implementation of the Human Capital Procurement Program is also on the list of deliverables. Human capital is sorely lacking in the Turks and Caicos across the public and private sectors with hundreds of vacancies sitting open and resignations continuing to pile up.
Public servants will also find it easier to enroll into the all new Public Sector Pension Plan with the advent of a portal to remove the need for paper based applications.
The previously announced pay grading exercise is on the table to be completed and a Contract management unit has now been created to manage the delivery of projects that taxpayers are funding.
Residents of the Turks and Caicos have complained bitterly about the state of the civil service in the country for years. From police records to the treasury, the service is characterized by low staffing, frustrating wait time and long lines.
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