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All gone; 4,684 Vaccinated in Turks and Caicos

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H.E. Nigel Dakin, TCI Governor, gets final jab of COVID vaccine

#TurksandCaicos, February 2, 2021 – Turks and Caicos residents have exhausted all of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccines sent to the territory by the UK Foreign Development & Commonwealth Office said the Deputy Governor and Premier on Monday following their second jab at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in Providenciales.

“We would have been the first to get our second dose, fully vaccinated here in Turks and Caicos.  And of course as usually we are being observed for the fifteen minutes, and we would have passed that period and again I am feeling quite fine.  Last shot, I had no reaction whatsoever, not even soreness of arm, so it has been the same experience thus far (for the second jab),” said Sharlene Robinson, Premier and joint-chair of the Vaccine Oversight Committee for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Stood side-by-side, the country’s leading ladies marked the historic significance with an impressive report.

“Also today and tomorrow we are going to be wrapping up our first doses of administration. We have done quite well over the past three weeks, we’ve done extremely well and today we have vaccinated a total of 4,684 persons in the Turks and Caicos; that includes 392 persons in Grand Turk, 82 persons on the island of North Caicos and 140+ persons on the island of Parrot Cay,” said Anya Williams, Deputy Governor who is the co-chair on the Vaccine Oversight Committee.

It was also shared that clinics for vaccination against Covid-19 continued on Monday in Grand Turk and South Caicos and Salt Cay are due for their appointments to be met sometime this week.

Though Magnetic Media’s earlier report of Public Health being congratulated for success in administering over 2,000 vaccines appeared to paint the complete picture, it did not; that figure left out the private medical centers which supported the surge in demand for the shots.

“It is free of cost to the person receiving the vaccination, but under the MOU Government paid $85 per person vaccinated through the private clinics. They would have been assisting us and did so greatly in terms of the numbers (of people) that were vaccinated through the private clinics,” explained the Premier and Minister of Finance.

The Deputy Governor said two thirds of those vaccinated received their shot at one of five private practitioners who were grafted into the vaccination roll-out via a Memorandum of Understanding; signed last month.

As cases numbers spiked, as global reports grew more grim, as the local death toll to Covid-19 soared so did the interest for the vaccine. 

“Now we are seeing a mad rush, when we are literally at the end and so there are persons who are coming up now, I say to you: don’t be discouraged, you have to now wait until the second batch.  But we are still keeping for senior citizens and frontline workers because it is very, very important that we vaccinate that group,” said the Premier. 

Registration for the Covid-19 Vaccine continues as the TCI feels confident of the next batch; though how it will get here is a work in progress with British Airways flights suspended until March.

“The complication for us is that persons may be aware that BA has cancelled their direct flights at the moment so we are still working on transportation and how we are going to get the vaccine here into the islands; so we are working very closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on that as well.  Even the government we are leading to see how best we can assist, even if there is a cost to us  because we know that the first batch of vaccines were provided completely free of charge by the united Kingdom,” said Her Excellency, Anya Williams.

If your preference is for the AstraZeneca, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson branded vaccines; it is unlikely you will get them in Turks and Caicos, said HE Anya Williams.

“Turks and Caicos would have already started with the Pfizer vaccine, we have done a lot of work around that, we have done a lot of communication, a lot of education… certainly we are not going to turn away any opportunity for the vaccine but of course our preference is to continue with the Pfizer vaccine, which we would have begun with.” 

The world is clamoring now for the coveted vaccines due production demands and shortage in supply; still co-chair of the TCI Vaccine Oversight Committee, Premier Sharlene Robinson explained Turks and Caicos remains in a good position to meet its target of vaccination for all adults due to its population size.

“I think we are in a very, very, good place in terms of being able to advocate to the UK, we are a very small population so that’s the beauty of it and they are very committed to assisting the overseas territories.  Again, we have to appreciate what privilege this is because there are so many leading independent countries in the region that are trying to get into arrangements,” the Premier added, “We have demonstrated, in this first batch that there is an uptake, that people are interested that’s why it was so important what happened with the first batch so that we could make a case for the additional.” 

Among the other country leaders getting that second jab at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre today were His Excellency, Nigel Dakin, the Governor and his wife Mandy; Hon Karen Malcolm, the Minister of Education and Dr. Denise Braithwaite-Tennant, CEO of the TCI Hospitals.

The remaining available doses of the vaccine are reserved for South Caicos, Salt Cay and priority people on those islands. 

The UK, on January 7, 2021 sent enough doses of the vaccine to inoculate four thousand, eight hundred and seventy five people in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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TCI Aviation Notice System Moves from U.S. to U.K. Platform

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Turks and Caicos, May 29, 2026 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority has quietly implemented a significant change to how critical aviation notices are distributed, shifting the publication of its Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs, from the United States system to a United Kingdom-based platform.

In a statement issued to the aviation community, TCIAA advised that effective May 13, 2026, at noon, all Turks and Caicos Islands NOTAMs began being published through the UK NOTAM Office, operated by National Air Traffic Services (NATS), under the U Series classification.

The move means pilots, airlines, dispatchers and flight planning teams can no longer rely on the Federal Aviation Administration’s traditional NOTAM source to locate current operational notices for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

NOTAMs are essential aviation communications used to alert pilots and operators to temporary changes that could affect flight operations, including runway closures, navigational aid outages, airspace restrictions and other safety-related information.

According to the Airports Authority, the transition is part of a broader aviation modernization programme and will remain in place until TCIAA commissions its own Aeronautical Information Management and Aeronautical Message Handling System capability.

The authority stressed that the change does not affect flight operations or aviation safety.

“At this time, there is no interruption to air traffic operations or safety-critical services,” the TCIAA said, noting that operational information will continue to be communicated through established Air Traffic Control channels.

The authority urged airlines, charter operators, flight planners and other aviation stakeholders to ensure their operational teams are aware of the new publication source to avoid missing important notices.

While largely administrative, the shift represents another step in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ effort to modernize its aviation infrastructure and align more closely with international aviation information management standards.

The Airports Authority thanked stakeholders for their cooperation as the transition moves forward.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Dog Owners Charged After Pack Attack Kills Dog at Taylor Bay Beach

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Turks and Caicos, May 29, 2026 – A fatal dog attack at one of Providenciales’ most popular beaches has resulted in swift enforcement action, with authorities identifying and charging the owners of the animals involved.

The Department of Agriculture says a group of dogs attacked and killed another dog at Taylor Bay Beach in Chalk Sound on May 18, in an incident witnessed by beachgoers and visitors.

Investigators moved quickly, determining that the dogs involved were registered and owned by residents of the Chalk Sound community. Accompanied by officers from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, Agriculture officials visited the owners and issued citations under the Dog Control Ordinance.

Each owner was fined a total of $1,500, including a $1,000 penalty for allowing a dog to roam in a public space without a leash and a $500 fine for having a dog exhibiting aggressive behaviour in a public area.

While the attack ended with the death of a dog, authorities noted that the outcome could have been far worse had a person, child or tourist become caught up in the incident.

Minister of Agriculture Zhavargo Jolly said the government takes incidents involving uncontrolled or aggressive animals seriously and praised the swift response by enforcement officers.

“While this was an isolated incident, it is unacceptable and swift enforcement action was taken by the Department of Agriculture and the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force,” said Jolly.

The minister stressed that residents and visitors should be able to enjoy public beaches safely and that dog owners have a responsibility to keep their animals secured and under control at all times.

The Department of Agriculture is reminding pet owners that dogs must be leashed in public spaces and properly registered. Officials are also encouraging owners to ensure their animals are microchipped as part of responsible pet ownership practices.

The incident remains under review, but authorities say the case demonstrates that violations of the Dog Control Ordinance will result in enforcement action.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Beaches Turks and Caicos and Sandals Foundation share educational material with primary school in Providenciales

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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: May 29, 2026 – Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and the Sandals Foundation, recently brought smiles and inspiration to students at the Community Christian Academy through a meaningful Reading Road Trip and educational material donation initiative.

The outreach effort, which forms part of the Sandals Foundation’s ongoing commitment to education and community development across the Turks and Caicos Islands, saw team members and volunteers engaging directly with students while delivering a wide range of essential school supplies.

Among the donated items were books, footballs, volleyballs, pencils, rulers, sharpeners, Bibles, Christian literature, sun glasses, writing pads, educational cue cards, erasers, markers, crayons, glue, scissors, paper clips, coloured chalk, and pens. The contributions were carefully curated to support both academic learning and extracurricular development for students at the institution.

A highlight of the day’s activities was an interactive reading session with the kindergarten and grade one classes, where volunteers shared stories and encouraged early literacy in a fun and engaging environment. The young students responded with enthusiasm, creating a lively and memorable experience for all involved.

Travel Advisor Renee Rice, who participated in the initiative alongside her family, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the opportunity to give back. “We are happy for this experience as we partnered with the Sandals Foundation and Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort in sharing in the development of education in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Rice said. Her family actively participated in reading sessions and interacting with the students, further enhancing the impact of the visit.

Principal Krystal Vincent welcomed the initiative and emphasized the importance of such partnerships in advancing the school’s mission. “These educational materials will go a far way, and we are happy for this relationship that we have established with the Sandals Foundation and Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort in helping to support the growth of the students and the institution,” Vincent noted.

Chairman of the School Board, Pastor Bradley Handfield, also expressed gratitude during the presentation of the items. He commended the donors for their continued investment in the community and their willingness to support the nation’s youth. Pastor Handfield highlighted the significance of corporate and philanthropic partnerships in strengthening educational foundations across the islands.

The Reading Road Trip initiative is part of a broader effort by the Sandals Foundation to promote literacy and provide access to educational resources for children throughout the Caribbean.

Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort has long been an active partner in community outreach, consistently supporting initiatives that uplift local communities and empower young people. Through collaborations such as this, the resort continues to demonstrate its commitment to social responsibility and sustainable development.

The visit to Community Christian Academy stands as a testament to the power of partnership and the positive impact that can be achieved when organizations and individuals come together with a shared purpose. For the students, the day was not only about receiving supplies but also about feeling encouraged, valued, and inspired to pursue their educational journeys with confidence.

As the Sandals Foundation and Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort continue to expand their outreach efforts, initiatives like the Reading Road Trip remain vital in shaping the future of education in the Turks and Caicos Islands—one child, one book, and one meaningful connection at a time.

Photo Caption:

The Sandals foundation is a registered charity in Jamaica with the Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies, a CRA registered charity in Canada, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States and a registered charity with the Charity Commission for England & Wales that was created in March 2009 to continue and expand upon the philanthropic work that Sandals Resorts International has undertaken.  It is the culmination of over four decades of dedication to playing a meaningful role in the lives of the communities where we operate across the Caribbean. The Sandals Foundation funds projects in three core areas: education, community and the environment. One hundred percent of the monies contributed by the general public to the Sandals Foundation go directly to programs benefiting the Caribbean community. To learn more about the Sandals Foundation, visit online at www.sandalsfoundation.org or follow us on Facebook, and Instagram.

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