News
TCI: Governor hosted event draws criticism
#TurksandCaicos, August 11, 2021 – The Governor of the Turks and Caicos found himself the subject of criticism on Sunday, after images emerged of an event he’d hosted appeared to break Covid-19 Health Regulations.
The missing masks, lack of social distancing and party-like feel of the photo and video drew labels like: “hypocrisy”, “double standard” and was red-flagged as a challenge to see what Health Officers would do after the video and screen shot surfaced and spread like wildfire on social media on Sunday.
The intrigue about the images lies in the fact that they show the Governor and others not physically distancing, not wearing masks and that it seemed to be a party. Also drawing criticism was who made the guest list; at least one individual (a local DJ) who has vexed residents because he continues to host “super spreader events”. Those commenting expressed it was in poor taste that the Governor would welcome the DJ to his informal meeting.
Governor Dakin explained his event was “mainly outdoors, it isn’t after or close to curfew and that it was a brunch designed to bring the creative community of the Turks and Caicos Islands together.” 
Additionally, the Governor said he would celebrate the event in an Instagram post, which he did.
When we reached out to the governor to explain the social-media-circulated images, he made it clear that he did not see the gathering as a double standard, adding in his comment that it was “a well thought through outdoor, daytime event within restricted numbers and with food being served.”
The latter point likely stated to explain why there are no masks on.
Still some residents believe public health laws, which the governor would have been a part of approving at Cabinet, are being blatantly flouted.
Mask wearing remains mandatory in Turks and Caicos, so is social distancing.
There are around 30 people in the photograph posted at the governor’s Instagram page and comments there are mostly favourable.
Private remarks to our newsroom from business owners were starkly different and offered that “the Covid-19 imposed protocols and hefty fines for breaking the rules are hampering our profitability; so now, I don’t want to see Police telling me what I cannot do.”
Strongly suggesting, they see the Governor’s event as opening the door to side-stepping rules as being as good for the goose, as it is for the gander.
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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