TCI News
Grand Turk could welcome near 14,000 Carnival cruisers in February
#TurksandCaicos – December 11, 2020 – February Carnival Cruise Line has four cruises scheduled for an early February return to Grand Turk, and it could mean 13,874 visitors over four days as all of the voyages are fully booked.
It has been nine months since a cruise ship berthed at the Grand Turk Cruise Center; the impact of Covid-19 flat lined economic activity on the island which welcomes over one million cruise visitors each year.
Carnival’s schedule reveals the plan is to set sail with its Carnival Elation out of Port Canaveral with 2,040 passengers in a fully booked cruise. Elation takes off on the four or five night cruise on February 1 and on the itinerary are Freeport and Nassau in The Bahamas; Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic and Grand Turk.
Carnival Sunrise is also fully booked with just under 3,000 passengers. It leaves the Port of Miami on February 4 with stops into Cozumel, Mexico; Key West, Florida; Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; Grand Cayman; Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Nassau and Half Moon Cay in The Bahamas. Grand Turk is the third stop on the five-night cruise.
The cruise liner, Mardi Gras is the longest of the cruises which includes Grand Turk on its itinerary. The seven-night trip also has the most passengers, 100 percent booked with 5,200 people on board. Grand Turk appears to be the first stop on the sailing which leaves Port Canaveral on February 6.
The final cruise for the capital island of the Turks and Caicos, according to the media report featuring early February sailings for Carnival is on February 7. Carnival Breeze sails from Port Canaveral on a seven-night voyage at capacity, which is 3,650 on the liner.
Grand Turk, Nassau and Amber Cove are the ports listed for the February 7 cruise.
Carnival Cruise Line, as have other cruise companies is being made to comply with stringent standards for public health protocols given the horror stories of rampant infection, passengers and crew left medically destitute, denial of dockings by Covid-weary countries and the death toll as the pandemic mercilessly marred their industry.
The US Centers for Disease Control unveiled its ‘Framework for Conditional Sailing’ on October 30 and it was beyond expectation.
Cruise companies are now scurrying to meet the standards which require on board laboratories, improved screening strategies of crew members and the CDC requires each cruise company to run a test cruise in order to be certified as fit to set sail from North America.
The CDC issued a No Sail Order on March 14, 2020.
The last cruise ship to dock in Grand Turk was the Carnival Magic on March 6. It was a contentious finale after TCI Health Officials denied passengers’ disembarkation due to in-country rules related to the dreaded Covid-19 contagion.
Originally published in the Magnate; our brand new E-newspaper. Want it every morning? Contact Deandrea Hamilton: 649-231-9261. We are the News Leader.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – After a reported encounter with a patient and a weapon on Wednesday, the TCI Hospital had beefed up security and suspended visitation, but on Thursday afternoon, that 24-hour imposition was lifted.
“The Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital would like to inform the public that the heightened security alert, previously imposed due to a reported incident involving a patient and a suspected weapon, has been lowered based on the advice of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. We are pleased to inform you that visitation to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre has now resumed. We understand the temporary suspension of visitation may have caused an inconvenience, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding during this period,” the
CHMC said in a statement.
The threat on Wednesday had resulted in armed officers at the facility, which caused concern for some residents.
The Hospitals say a heightened security alert had to be implemented at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in Providenciales following a reported incident involving a patient and a suspected weapon.
The hospital did not provide further details into the incident.
The Police were immediately summoned to the scene and launched ‘a thorough investigation into the matter’ according to the initial press release.
Magnetic Media had received a video of heavily armed security personnel pacing through waiting rooms in the health facility.
The hospital said: “We have immediately deployed additional security personnel to reinforce our on-site security measures. They are well-trained and equipped to handle any potential threats swiftly and effectively.”
In the end, with the threat neutralized, the Hospitals resumed regular functioning at the Providenciales centre.
“The safety and well-being of our staff, patients, and visitors remain our top priority. Accordingly, we have taken all necessary measures to ensure their protection throughout this situation.
Our security personnel and members of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force worked diligently during this investigation, and we extend our gratitude for their efforts.”
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – A suite of actions that constitute misconduct for medical professionals in the Turks and Caicos has been laid out by the Government, along with a process outlined for recourse for residents who think they have been wronged via proposed amendments to the Health Professions Ordinance.
Section VIII of the ordinance which dealt with disciplinary actions has been repealed and replaced; included in that replacement is a list of 12 actions that will land medical professionals in hot water.
Drinking on the job, abandoning patients, faking certificates for vaccines and even sharing profits are actions that TCIG is warning against. The full list outlines the misconduct of a health professional as:
- If he personally abuses or misuses alcohol or other substances such that it affects or impairs the performance of his duties, or during the performance of his duties;
- If he abuses or misuses his position as a health professional;
- If he conducts himself in an indecent or violent behavior;
- For misconduct in research endeavors;
- If he willfully betrays a professional confidence;
- If he abandons a patient in danger without sufficient cause, and without giving him an opportunity to retain the services of another health professional;
- Knowingly gives a false certificate respecting birth, death, notice of disease, state of health, vaccination or disinfection or respecting any matter relating to life, health, or accident insurance;
- Divides with another person, who is not a partner, any fees or profits resulting from consultations or surgical operations, without the patient’s knowledge and consent;
- Impersonates another health professional;
- Employs in connection with his professional practice an assistant who is not registered or licensed under this Ordinance, or permits a person who is not registered or licensed under this Ordinance to attend or treat patients
- Directly or indirectly holds himself out to the public as a specialist or as being specially qualified in any particular branch of medicine and who has not taken a special course in such branch and received a certificate of specialty therein which is recognized by a council;
- Does or fails to do any act or thing, the doing of which or the failure to do which a council considers to be unprofessional or discreditable
If a resident alleges malpractice or makes a complaint against a medical health professional, the proposed amendments now require that person to provide in writing an affidavit detailing the alleged offense and his reasons for believing it true.
The authorities then have to decide whether the complaint is genuine and then proceed to censure, reprimand the health professional, suspend their license, or strike them from the register of licensed registered health professionals via hearing.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – When the National Youth Awards were held on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, a number of organizations that have long been making outstanding contributions to youth development were bestowed with first-time national awards; the Turks and Caicos Islands Government honouring their contributions to the country.
The Saint Monica’s Christian Youth Movement, Rotaract Club, Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre, and Pine Cay Project were all awarded. 
The awards were presented during the first annual National Youth Awards on September 27th as the country celebrated Youth Week.
The Saint Monica’s Christian Youth Movement was highlighted for being Outstanding In Community Spirit And Building Relationships.
The Rotaract Club was awarded for being Outstanding In Community Projects.
The Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre for being Outstanding In Community Impact Through Volunteer Services.
Finally, the Pine Cay Project was recognized for its Outstanding Corporate Contributions.
The organizations were awarded along with a group of young people who have recorded significant achievements across education, entrepreneurship, sports, and more.
The National Youth Awards were held at the ballroom of Beaches Turks and Caicos.
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