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Change again, Beaches Resort TCI to open FIVE WEEKS from now; 113 days since date change fiasco began

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#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos – November 14, 2020 — Perhaps on Wednesday the negotiations for a long standing tax dispute between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) and Beaches Resort Turks and Caicos will begin and perhaps, on December 21st the property which employs 1,800 people will finally reopen to guests.

The website on Thursday night held the date for opening as Wednesday November 18.  Today, the Beaches website informs that opening for Beaches Resort in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos is postponed by nearly five weeks to Monday December 21.

Beaches Resort Turks & Caicos ready with COVID-19 health protocols in place, Photo by Magnetic Media

The date has been bumping back on the 2020 calendar since July, when international travelers were first welcomed back to Turks and Caicos, a British overseas territory, after it shut borders due to the wave of Covid-19 walloping the world.

No opening in July for Beaches Resort almost immediately impacted airline schedules; it meant less flights and naturally, less tourists and less income for thousands of families and businesses. 

At the time, Beaches Resort promised to reopen on October 14 but stunned the nation when the Board of Directors of the resort also explained the opening was hinged on getting resolve in a four-year-old tax row.

October 14 came and went, no opening for the sprawling resort which accounts for around 70 percent of long stay visitors to the Turks and Caicos.  Instead, guests who had booked vacations began receiving apologies from the resort and the offer to either re-schedule or to visit a Beaches Resort in Jamaica. 

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October 15, Beaches reiterated that the decision not to reopen was regrettable but necessary, as there remained no resolution.  The TCIG said it was owed over $26 million dollars by Beaches Resort.  Beaches Resort claimed it owed nothing and had been, for years, wrongly charged and suffered breaches in its development agreement.

A volley of spicy comments was swatted around in the public domain through press releases and media statements.  The stalemate between TCIG and Beaches Resort was now ugly but there was agreement on a mediator and the new challenge turned to confirming a date for negotiation of the dispute to begin.

November 18 was given as the new reopening date for Beaches Resort once and if the matter was settled.  November 18 was also the date given by Government for when the negotiation would start. 

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Despite urging from the likes of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) to expedite the mediation meetings; there was no change for an earlier date. Onlookers knew this fact would create a problem and now we learn that it has… the Board is also immovable on its terms; the date for opening is no longer November 18 and that means a tourism rebound is stymied by stubbornness.

The initial announcement and stipulation for reopening by Beaches Resort executives came on July 24.  One-hundred and thirteen days later and there is still no resolution, therefore the gate of the country’s most significant tourism partner remains closed and the impact is far reaching, even devastating for the TCI’s rebound amidst this unprecedented pandemic.

Beaches Resort and the Turks and Caicos Islands Government are today both quiet about the reopening date change and about whether the negotiation with the mediator actually begins next week.

Magnetic Media is a Telly Award winning multi-media company specializing in creating compelling and socially uplifting TV and Radio broadcast programming as a means for advertising and public relations exposure for its clients.

News

Emailer Threatens Our Children; ‘Close Down the School’

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Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

 

Turks and Caicos, April 25, 2025 – Turks and Caicos national security leaders were deliberately vague about what led to their snap decision to shut down schools across Providenciales this week. The likely reason was to avoid panic after they were alerted to the dangerous and frightening prospect of what some anonymous sender planned to inflict upon the children, families and at least six private schools in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RT&CIPF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, has launched an active investigation following the receipt of suspicious emails to six schools earlier this evening.

At this stage, police intelligence has not confirmed the legitimacy of the threats. However, the police force is treating the matter with the utmost seriousness.”

However, holding onto the precise threat spelled out in those ghastly emails, meant parents remained frustratingly clueless about what was so serious that it prompted school officials, to late on Wednesday night, ask them to not to drop their children to school.

Schools which were in session complied with the police statement, though we understand there was no direct communication with school administrations.

Magnetic Media also learned that those now infamous emails, dispatched to half a dozen schools including the International School, Precious Treasures, Provo Primary and British West Indies Collegiate, contained a bone-chilling threat to shoot at the schools this Friday, April 25, 2025.

“…you’ve been randomly selected for a shooting I recommend to have minimal damage done to close the school.  You will be given a 24Hr notice and a 12 Hr notice, God bless.”

There was no blessing obviously and thankfully, no violence.  Some of the schools targeted with the violent email are still on Easter Holiday.

“A joint meeting between education officials and senior police officers was convened promptly after the emails were reported. The RT&CIPF’s Intelligence Unit is fully engaged and working to trace the origin of the messages.

We understand that these messages may cause concern and wish to assure the public that everything possible is being done to protect our school communities,” informed the police press statement.

The statement came after 10 p.m. on Thursday April 23.

The sender, identified in the email as ‘Charles Millson’ and issued the threat to multiple schools via their staff accounts about 12 hours earlier, just minutes before 10 a.m. on April 23.  In the subject line: ‘Close Down the School.’

In this age of hyper-advanced technology, the email probably emanated from a phony account created to perpetrate this crime, which is in violation of the Summary Offences Ordinance, where ‘causing fear’ is cited as a crime and the Firearms Ordinances, which carries a weighty penalty of a 12-year minimum mandatory prison time for possession of an unlicensed gun and ammunition.

Authorities are expected to update the public on the progress of the investigation and its next steps. Students will remain home on Friday.

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News

NHIB REMAINS OPEN AND COMMITTED TO DELIVERING QUALITY HEALTHCARE: PUBLIC URGED TO CONTINUE MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS  

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PRESS RELEASE

 FROM THE MINISTRY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 25th April 2025 – The Ministry of Health and Human Services assures the public that the National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) remains operational and fully committed to providing access to quality healthcare services for all insured persons in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

As the organisation undergoes administrative review and restructuring, the Ministry emphasizes that the Board is taking all necessary steps to maintain stability and continuity of care. Subscribers are urged to continue making their regular contributions, which are essential to ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services at the highest standards, both locally and abroad.

Interim Chair of the NHIB, Mrs. Shonia Been, said, “The Board is actively working to maintain a seamless experience for subscribers and providers alike“We are focused on ensuring that healthcare access remains uninterrupted and that the trust placed in us by the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands is honoured.”

The NHIB encourages all insured persons, employers, and self-employed individuals to continue making monthly contributions. These payments are critical to sustaining the national health insurance system and enabling the Board to meet its obligations to local and overseas healthcare providers, ensuring that beneficiaries receive the care they need without disruption.

Commenting on the NHIB, the Minister of Health and Human Services, the Hon. Kyle Knowles, stated, “This is a time of renewal and strengthening for the NHIB. While internal assessments are ongoing, the public can be confident that the Board remains open for business and that healthcare delivery is not only stable but being actively protected and improved. We urge all subscribers to continue making their monthly payments, as their contributions directly support our ability to deliver care to every resident who needs it.”

To further enhance transparency and accountability, contracted examiners, Interpath, have commenced a comprehensive forensic examination of the Board’s operations and financials. This process aims to identify areas for improvement and ensure that the NHIB continues to operate in the best interest of the people.

The public is further advised that all NHIB offices throughout the Islands are open for business and ready to assist with queries, claims, registrations, and payments. Customer service teams are available to support subscribers and guide them through any concerns.

As the organisation continues to strengthen its internal operations and governance, it reaffirms its mission to promote the health and well-being of every resident through a fair and sustainable insurance system.

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Government

Premier Misick Convenes First Strategic Leadership Planning Meeting for FY 2025–26

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Turks and Caicos, April 25, 2025 – The Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Honourable Charles Washington Misick, convened the first Leadership Strategic Planning Meeting for the 2025–2026 financial year on Monday, April 7, 2025, at The Palms Resort.

The session brought together Cabinet Ministers and senior government executives to align national leadership under the theme: “Confronting Reality: Leading Change for Success and Growth.”

In his keynote address, Premier Misick emphasized the urgency of courageous, data-driven leadership and the need for clear, results-oriented governance. “We must lead with clarity, act with urgency, and never shy away from the truth of our challenges,” he said. “This is a moment to confront reality—not to be discouraged by it, but to lead meaningful change that delivers measurable results and long-term national success.”

A central highlight of the meeting was the launch of the Ministry of Innovation, Technology, and Energy—an initiative aimed at driving digital transformation and modernizing public services.

Governor Her Excellency Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam and Deputy Governor Anya Williams also addressed the gathering.

Both emphasized cross-government collaboration and a clear strategic vision as essential tools for delivering sustainable development and advancing public sector transformation. Williams presented the public service’s five-year strategic plan focused on improving service delivery and achieving long-term progress.

Ministers presented their respective goals and outlined departmental priorities in alignment with national development objectives. The meeting also marks a key milestone in the Premier’s first 100 days and signals the beginning of a broader series of leadership engagements aimed at translating vision into action.

The Premier’s government has pledged to maintain a strong focus on implementation, innovation, and public service delivery, setting a bold tone for governance in the year ahead.

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