News
TCI: Robinson + Robinson Team up for correction on ‘Ballot Blunder in The Bight’
#TurksandCaicos, April 27, 2021 – Royal Robinson believes the election reputation of the Turks and Caicos is at stake and those who threaten to bring the stable system of fairness and accountability into disrepute should be made to leave office. He fingers the elections’ supervisor Dudley Lewis and the Attorney General Rhonda-Lee Braithwaite Knowles in a no holds barred statement issued Friday.
“The nonsense at the Elections Office must stop and Mr. Lewis, it’s Supervisor, should go. If the AG Knowles is found not to have acted in good faith, then she too should go too. This entire matter is a travesty of justice, Human Rights, fair play and integrity in office. That this charade, dereliction of duties and not being accountable is taking place in this beautiful place that I call home, is contemptable,” said Royal Robinson, a former government minister for the Progressive National Party.
The statement backs up his son, newly elected all island member Jamell Robinson who has for weeks been trying to get the Elections Office, he says, to sort out a blunder of addition in the Bight.
“In regard to the my overall vote count being incorrectly reported, I can confirm that this is indeed the case as my correct total was 3,500 votes. Specifically, in the Bight District the total shortfall was 82 votes because the 3 polling station returns were not added up correctly.
The issue was flagged with the Elections office in sufficient time to make an immediate correction or at the very least to have it addressed in the Elections Report which is required by Section 57 (5) a) of the Election Ordinance. Institutions of Good Governance must carry out their functions with Integrity or be made to do so,” said Hon Jamell Robinson, who won one of five All Island candidate seats in the 2021 General Election.
The Attorney General’s Chambers responded to the TCI Sun Newspaper only; saying Robinson should have filed a petition to order a recount of the votes in The Bight. However, Jamell Robinson explained he did not need a recount, he only needed the correction of figures which had already been tallied and agreed by agents for each political party.
Mr. Robinson also contends, he was never advised that a Supreme Court petition was the only want to rectify the discrepancy he reportedly brought to the attention of the Elections Supervisor on election night.
“As a member of the voting public, I believe this is an issue relevant to all Turks and Caicos Islanders. Mistakes do happen, but we have to be willing to do the right thing, learn from them, and adjust for the future. This is not a challenge with the PNP and as I made clear on the campaign trail, the PNP is ready for the work that needs to be done and I am honored to serve as part of the governing party that will lead us through these unprecedented times,” shared the younger Robinson.
Royal Robinson, known as a spitfire and who is also Jamell’s father said he intentionally stayed out of the matter until now; at this point he is speaking and standing up for what he claims is a wrong against his son.
“There was clearly a mistake in adding the votes from the tally sheets from the three polling stations for The Bight on election night, Friday, 19th February, 2021. Coincidentally, I was the counting agent for the third room, and so was Hon. O’Neil Delancy. The numbers were agreed to by all parties in that room and the final sheet was taken to the person in charge of that Constituency. It was somewhat past midnight on election night, when the tally was finished. The tally sheets from each room were given to the Returning Officer and it was just a matter of adding the votes from the three rooms for each of the candidates that appeared on the ballot. The votes garnered by each candidate from each room was not in dispute.”
The Elder Robinson said the 82 people who wanted their votes to be counted for Jamell Robinson should have their vote counted as such. He believes the Elections Supervisor failed in his constitutional duty.
“It was not until after 7pm, on the day that a petition to the Court for redress, if necessary, that Mr. Lewis wrote to Hon. Robinson stating that he had to file a petition if he wanted the ballot boxes to be opened to see what had happened. Mr. Lewis knew full well that the window of opportunity for that was now closed. However, prior to Mr. Lewis writing Hon. Robinson that nonsense, on a visit to Mr. Lewis’ office by Hon. Robinson, the Supervisor of Elections showed Hon. Robinson a document with the corrected number count for him for The Bight Constituency,” explained Royal Robinson.
The AG’s Chamber disagrees that Supervisor Dudley Lewis did anything wrong; they back the Elections Office in its handling of the matter.
“The Hon. AG cannot feign ignorance of the matter as she was copied in on ALL of the correspondence to Mr. Lewis.
The rationale that they are trying to use is that he won and the PNP won, so what is the big deal? According to US Vice President Joe Biden: “it is a BIG F…ING DEAL”! Just look at what happened in the 2016 Elections, Hon. Misick beat out Mr. Robbie Been Jnr by only 21 votes for the fifth spot. Therefore, 82 votes is indeed a very a big f…ing deal!”
At this point, the elder Robinson shared that the matter has gone to the Governor as the Elections Office falls within his remit.
The Elections Office has not replied to Magnetic Media questions on the matter.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (November 6th, 2026) – The Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes Porter Airlines as it begins its service to the destination with its inaugural Toronto (YYZ) to Providenciales (PLS) route on Friday, November 6th. The airline will service the route five times weekly from the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
On December 17th, Porter will launch its Ottawa to PLS flight, a new route for the Turks and Caicos Islands. That route will be serviced twice weekly from Ottawa International Airport (YOW).
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly said the expansion of air service from Canada reflects the growing strength of that market to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“Canada is showing strong and growing interest in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and we are pleased to see that reflected in the expansion of air service from the market. Porter Airlines’ new nonstop flights from Toronto and Ottawa strengthen our connectivity with Canada and give travellers more convenient options for reaching our islands. Canadians have always shown a genuine appreciation for the culture, heritage, natural beauty and, of course, the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Perhaps it is that shared warmth and friendliness that keeps bringing them back, and our partnership with Porter will simply make it easier for Canadians to continue showing their love for our Beautiful by Nature islands. Toronto builds on an important existing market for us, while Ottawa opens an entirely new gateway to the Turks and Caicos Islands. This increased access will make it easier for more Canadians to discover and enjoy our destination, while supporting the continued growth of this important market.”
Hon. Arlington Musgrove, minister responsible for aviation, Turks and Caicos commended his team at the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) for developing this relationship with Porter.
“The launch of Porter Airlines’ new services from Toronto and Ottawa to the Turks and Caicos Islands is another important milestone in strengthening our connectivity with the Canadian market. Canada remains an important source market for our tourism industry, and these new routes will give Canadians more choice and easier access to the warmth, beauty, and hospitality of the Turks and Caicos Islands. I
commend the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority for leading this initiative and for its continued efforts to develop air service and build strong relationships with our airline partners. I also extend our sincere appreciation to Porter Airlines for its confidence in the Turks and Caicos Islands and for choosing our destination as part of its growing network of sun destinations. We warmly welcome Porter, its passengers and crew to our shores and look forward to a successful and lasting partnership,” he said.
To celebrate and promote the new flights, Experience Turks and Caicos hosted a reception in Ottawa for travel advisors and media. Organised by VoX International, our marketing agency in Canada, the event featured remarks by Market Intelligence Manager, Sharissa Lightbourne and Chairman of the TCIAA, Dwayne Gardiner. Nikeva Ariza, Director of Corporate Affairs, Communications and Public Engagement was also in attendance.
The new flights are operated by Porter’s 132-seat Embraer E195-E2. The aircraft features a two-by-two seating configuration, meaning no middle seats for any passenger. Porter’s elevated onboard experience includes complimentary beer and wine served in glassware, premium Canadian snacks, and free, fast WiFi for every passenger.
To book your flight, visit www.flyporter.com.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (November 4th, 2026) – The Turks and Caicos Islands recorded its highest number of stayover arrivals for the third quarter of the year, with approximately 130,000 visitors welcomed between July and September, representing a three percent increase over the same period in 2025.
Preliminary figures from Experience Turks and Caicos show that the destination recorded 514,670 stayover arrivals for the first nine months of 2026, an increase of 25,048 visitors, or five percent, compared with the same period last year. Growth was recorded in every month from January through September, underscoring the destination’s continued appeal among travellers and the sustained demand for its tourism product.
Stay Over Arrivals by Quarter (2025/2026)
September closed the quarter on a positive note, with 20,204 stayover arrivals, seven percent more than the 18,795 recorded in September 2025. The year-to-date total of 514,670 is the highest number of stayover arrivals ever recorded for the January-to-September period.
Commenting on the record stayover arrivals, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly said: “These record arrivals are an encouraging achievement for the Turks and Caicos Islands and a reflection of the continued confidence visitors have in our destination. However, I’ve always maintained that the true measure of tourism’s success cannot simply be the number of visitors arriving on our shores. It must also be measured by the opportunities we create for our people.”
“Our vision is to build a stronger, higher-value tourism industry where Turks and Caicos Islanders are not simply employees, but entrepreneurs, business owners and active participants in the economic opportunities tourism creates. This is why our recent Community Connect meetings across the sister islands were so important. We want to engage directly with our communities, understand their challenges and ensure that as our tourism industry grows, the opportunities for our people grow alongside it. Ultimately, tourism must do more than bring people to our shores. It must improve the lives of the people who call these islands home.”
Cruise arrivals reflect return to regular itineraries
Cruise passenger arrivals at the Grand Turk Cruise Port followed a different trend during the first nine months of 2026, with figures reflecting a return to more typical cruise itineraries following an unusually strong period in 2025.
Last year, cruise lines added Grand Turk to their itineraries, resulting in exceptionally high passenger volumes and cruise calls. With itineraries returning to more regular patterns this year, cruise passenger arrivals declined year over year throughout the first nine months.
The destination received 62,095 cruise passengers in September, a 22 percent decrease from the 79,341 recorded in September 2025. From January through September, total cruise passenger arrivals stood at 838,533, compared with 1,016,532 during the same period last year, representing an 18 percent decline.
Cruise Arrivals by Quarter (2025/2026)
While the cruise figures reflect a normalisation from last year’s elevated numbers, the continued growth in stayover arrivals provides a positive indicator of the destination’s performance in its overnight visitor market.
It is projected that the month-on-month increases in stayover arrivals will continue into the upcoming winter season, especially with the additional airlift expected from new and existing gateways in Canada and the US.
Turks and Caicos, October 31, 2026 – Once again, I feel compelled to put pen to paper on this matter. You don’t expect to slam your
brakes in paradise. But in Grand Turk, it’s becoming routine.
Donkeys roam along roadsides, darting into traffic, while packs of dogs linger around neighborhoods. Tourists and residents alike face dangerous encounters with animals that, while symbolic of Grand Turk’s identity, now pose very real threats to public safety and themselves.
I’ve had near misses myself, and I’m not alone. This is no longer simply an island charm issue; it’s an unfolding dilemma that demands attention.
Grand Turk has a long history of romanticizing its animals. Donkeys, once essential to the island’s salt trade in the 1800s, are now part of its distinctive character. Yet neither they nor the growing population of free-roaming dogs are being adequately managed.
Estimates place the donkey population at around 500 on an island measuring just 10.5 square miles, with approximately 4,000–5,000 residents and tourist numbers that can double on cruise ship days. Add dogs that are quasi-owned—fed occasionally out of pity or when they wander onto someone’s property, but rarely properly cared for or contained—and the scale of the problem becomes clearer.
Feeding a dog occasionally is not the same as taking responsibility for it. The same applies to owners who fail to provide adequate fencing, allowing their dogs to roam freely through neighborhoods and onto public roads. Responsible ownership requires more than occasional feeding; it means ensuring an animal’s welfare while protecting the wider community.
Tourists may marvel at roadside donkeys or follow a friendly dog to the beach. But they don’t necessarily witness the accidents, injuries, property damage, and scattered garbage. Nor do they see how open grazing areas are disappearing beneath roads, homes, and new developments.
So, whose space is it now? Are the animals invading ours, or are we gradually taking theirs, leaving less vegetation for them to feed on?
This is not simply a debate about animals. It is about responsibility, planning, and public safety.
Grand Turk’s Department of Agriculture faces a challenging predicament. The Turks & Caicos Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TCSPCA) does what it can, but without adequate funding and government support, its capacity remains limited. Volunteers continue to step forward, yet goodwill alone cannot resolve a problem of this magnitude.
There are several suggestions from avid Hooves & Paws TCI volunteers: Establish satellite watering holes away from high-traffic areas, properly maintain existing ones, or explore the creation of a donkey sanctuary etc.
We have recently welcomed the long-awaited arrival of a full-time veterinarian, but that alone is not enough. Support vehicles, appropriate facilities, and equipment for the safe and humane capture and treatment of animals are also essential.
There is another uncomfortable question that deserves an answer: Is the Department investing in the training and resources needed for the humane euthanasia of severely injured animals when recovery is no longer possible, rather than leaving police officers to resort to shooting them?
There may be emergencies in which officers must act immediately to protect human life. However, emergency responses should not replace a properly funded animal management programme. Severely injured animals deserve a humane, professional response, with veterinary guidance wherever circumstances permit.
We have also heard concerning reports of animal mutilation. Such reports warrant serious attention and, where appropriate, proper investigation. Animal welfare must be part of this conversation, not an afterthought.
If Grand Turk wants to preserve its Beautiful by Nature identity, it needs more than slogans. It needs enforcement, practical solutions, and a willingness to acknowledge that some animals are suffering while others pose genuine dangers to residents and visitors.
No one wants to strip the island of its character. Donkeys, dogs, horses, cows, and even the occasional roaming of goats or roosters contribute to the experience that makes Grand Turk memorable. But when charm becomes a hazard and beauty collides with danger, it is time to stop romanticizing the situation and start organizing around solutions.
There is no single, perfect answer. But continuing to do too little only increases the risk of more accidents, more suffering, and further damage to the environment we claim to cherish.
The wild can still be free, and humans and animals can coexist. But that balance requires responsible ownership, humane treatment, effective enforcement, adequate resources, and government leadership.
This administration must work alongside local volunteers, expatriate residents, animal welfare organizations, and the private sector to develop sustainable strategies before neglect leads to irreversible consequences.
Grand Turk’s animals are part of our heritage. Protecting that heritage means protecting the animals, the people who share this island with them, and the visitors who come here expecting paradise.
Ed Forbes
