News
TCI still at Level 4 COVID risk, but why?
#TurksandCaicos, May 19, 2021 – This morning the Turks and Caicos Islands remain at Level 4 alert on the Centers for Disease Control’s rating which informs: ‘Travelers should avoid all travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands, because of the current situation … that even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants and Americans should avoid all travel to the TCI.’
It has long been stated the classification for the Turks and Caicos is too harsh and today, with active cases down to three and hospitalisations at three, it makes one wonder what it takes to be considered a safe destination, from the CDC’s vantage point.
TCI Ministry of Health data reveals that from the start of May to now, only 13 positives for Covid-19 have been found out of 1,159, gold standard PCR tests performed by the National Public Health Laboratory.
The Minister of Health has informed that the infection rate is below the three per cent threshold and even lower when the antigen tests are factored in.
In roughly 18 days, which is from start of the month to now, there have been 15,434 antigen tests performed; this is largely of guests to the Turks and Caicos and carried out by any one of 15 authorised testing centers which includes some resorts.
Yet new infections remained low at 13.
Aside from a new Covid-19 case in South Caicos, captured on yesterday’s dashboard, all virus patients had been restricted to the most populated island of Providenciales, which started the month at 26 and is now down to two.
Deaths have thankfully remained at 17 and when it comes to the uptake of the vaccine; the jump in seven days was 1,583 when you compare the May 2nd and May 9th vaccination dashboards. This put the Turks and Caicos a mere 5,485 people off the goal of 70 per cent or 25,000 adults (fully) vaccinated in order to achieve the so called, ‘herd immunity’.
The Level 4 travel warning is hurtful to tourism, the #1 industry; there have been cancellations and concerns about the safety of the destination.
When former Premier, Sharlene Robinson announced on January 12, 2021 the country had returned to the CDC’s Level 4 high-risk-list; the Turks and Caicos was experiencing a surge in new cases and fresh outbreaks in the islands. Active cases were 185, with double digit growth almost daily.
At the start of his journey in February as the minster for health, Hon E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier of the TCI said the goal would be to increase testing, increase vaccinations and hopefully see a lower infection rate due to the various restrictions and protocols in place.
It appears the goals are met and being met, yet the Turks and Caicos – with the dramatic changes, sees no change, at least not yet.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Revenue from the Turks and Caicos’ Financial Services Sector will more than double in the next few years, if E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister gets his way. It ‘s one of the reasons the country is investing so much capital into getting off of the EU blacklist and becoming a secure trustworthy financial destination.
“The FSC’s revenues for 2020/21 was $10.5M— the figures for 2021/22, would be about similar,” he said. He further explained that $10.5 million from the FSC represented about 2.6 percent of the country’s 408.5-million-dollar
revenue. Though it increased to $14 million in the 2021/22 financial year, finance is still a small fry compared to tourism or even stamp duties but that will change, says Saunders.
“My revenue goal for the Government by the year 2029 [or] the election after the next election – is $500M. By that time, I want the financial sector (FSC) revenues to represent at least 5% ($25M). So that’s my goal for the financial sector by 2029.”
This goal, should it be met, would increase the Government’s revenue by 100 million dollars, a significant increase in spending power for local upgrades and improvements for Turks and Caicos residents and visitors.
Saunders says it’s time for the TCI to diversify its sources of revenue to make sure that what happened in the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw residents out of a job for months, will not happen again. Tourism now makes up around 80 percent of the country’s GDP. The Minister of Finance wants to push that down to 60 or even 50 percent.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#Haiti, March 17, 2023 – When a CARICOM delegation visited Haiti earlier this month, conspicuously absent was the Turks and Caicos Islands despite being one of the nations most directly affected by the multi-dimensional crisis there. There is no comment, as yet from the Premier, to say why this was the case.
Still, from the expedition, CARICOM heads of Government have informed that there will be lobbying in Africa for assistance in Haiti. They say they have decided that the best course of action for the Caribbean country is to bolster the Haitian National Police and act as intermediaries with Africa and the world. The decision follows a one day visit on February 27th, and a March 5th meeting chaired by the Bahamas.
CARICOM says during the trip delegates ‘met with a broad range of Haitian stakeholders to hear their views on the
way forward to a Haitian-led solution’. With that in mind it has made a decision on how to proceed.
“The Heads of Government agreed to support the Haitian National Police in their efforts to address the security situation. The focus of the Community will be the provision of training for the HNP and the provision of humanitarian assistance to HNP and the wider Haitian society, taking into account the challenging humanitarian and security situation”
It’s not clear yet where and how this training will take place. Also distinctly absent from the report, no more mention of boots on the ground from other countries despite CARICOM Member States indicating they were ready and willing should it come to that.
In addition, recognizing ‘the common historical experiences and the strong African-Caribbean relationship’ CARICOM says,
“Heads of Government also agreed to seek support from African countries for Haiti. They also agreed to work with the Governments of Canada and the United States as well as the UNDP”
Magnetic Media has reached out to the Premier’s Office to get a full debrief of the February 27th visit (led by Jamaica; including The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago) to learn of Turks and Caicos’ posture following the critical sessions.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Musicians from the New World Symphony will be in the Turks and Caicos in concert next month and residents are invited to attend in support of the future of Ashley’s Learning Center. 
A fairly young orchestral academy based in Miami, the New World Symphony was launched in the 1980s by 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ted Arison,Carnival Cruises founder. From the 1500 applicants who vie for a spot each year, the symphony accepts around 35 music graduates annually for training fellowships.
A select few of those graduates will be in country on April 8th headlining at the Ashley’s Learning Center concert ‘We’re all in this together’. The concert which also feature local artistes will be held at Brayton Hall on Venetian Road from 6 pm to 8:30 pm
Tickets are available ON ISLEHELP $75 PER GENERAL SEAT $125 PER PREMIUM SEAT $195 PER GALLERY SEAT – with /FREFRESHMENTS.
For TICKET RESERVATIONs you can call: 649-341-2304 or email EVENTS@ASHLEYSLEARNINGCENTER.ORG
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