The Bahamas, March 30, 2026 – The voice of a proud mother captured the spirit of a nation Monday night, as Bendra Rolle shared heartfelt reflections on the overwhelming Bahamian support for her son, VJ Edgecombe, during the Philadelphia 76ers matchup against the Miami Heat in Miami.

“The patriotic support and scenery at my son, VJ Edgecombe’s NBA game… was overwhelming,” Rolle said in a statement issued following the game. “The arena in Miami was lit. Bimini and the Bahamas showed up and showed out.”

Her words come amid what has already been widely described as a remarkable showing of national pride, with Bahamians traveling in large numbers to South Florida to witness the young guard’s continued rise. For Rolle, however, the moment extended far beyond basketball.

“Beyond VJ’s basketball talents, I’m so moved by his magnetic personality and personal journey to inspire and excite an entire nation—our beloved Bahamas,” she said. “I thank God for VJ’s humility and for his hunger for greatness. He never forgets how far God has brought us.”

While the Sixers did not secure the win on the night, Edgecombe delivered a solid individual performance, finishing with 13 points and five assists. He made an early impact on the game, showing confidence and poise before foul trouble disrupted his rhythm, but still managed to leave his mark in meaningful minutes.

The game itself evolved into a cultural showcase, with Bahamian flags waving throughout the arena and chants ringing out in support of Edgecombe. Much of that presence was bolstered by a coordinated travel push from Bahamasair, which helped facilitate fan travel and added to the electric atmosphere in Miami.

Rolle said the emotional weight of the moment was deeply felt by her family, as they witnessed firsthand the unity and pride of the Bahamian people.

“Thanks and love for the tears and overwhelming joy on Monday, Bahamas,” she expressed. “The Bahamian flags were love, loud, and proud. On my own behalf, VJ, and the entire family, I am ever grateful for the indescribable experience.”

Her closing words underscored what many have described as the true victory of the night—not the final score, but the powerful display of national pride and support surrounding one of The Bahamas’ rising stars.

Turks and Caicos, March 30, 2026 – Electricity costs in the Turks and Caicos Islands are climbing again, with Pelican Energy reporting increases in the fuel factor for March, while warning that global instability could push prices even higher in the months ahead.

In its latest update to customers, the power provider confirmed that fuel factor rates — the portion of electricity bills tied directly to the cost of fuel — have risen across most service territories.

Providenciales, North Caicos and Middle Caicos will see a 3.4 percent increase, bringing the rate to $0.1658 per kilowatt hour, while Grand Turk and Salt Cay will experience a 2.8 percent rise to $0.1569 per kWh. The rate for South Caicos is still pending, though in February it climbed by 2.8 percent to $0.1728 per kWh.

The fuel factor is a variable charge, meaning it moves in response to international oil prices — and right now, those prices are under pressure.

Pelican Energy pointed to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, including ongoing conflict affecting key global shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, as a major driver of recent increases.

That narrow waterway near Iran is one of the world’s most critical oil transit corridors, with a significant share of global fuel supply passing through it daily. Any disruption — whether from conflict, threats, or shipping delays — has a direct impact on global prices.

Energy markets have remained volatile as a result, with production decisions by OPEC and its allies also influencing supply levels and pricing trends.

For the Turks and Caicos Islands, which relies heavily on imported fuel for electricity generation, the impact is immediate.

“Because we rely on imported fuel to generate electricity, these market conditions can influence fuel costs in TCI,” the company said, noting that it is closely monitoring developments.

While the upward movement in fuel costs is concerning, Pelican Energy also indicated that infrastructure upgrades are underway — projects that may cause short-term inconvenience but are expected to improve long-term energy reliability.

Those improvements could include enhancements to generation capacity and distribution systems, though in the near term, residents and businesses may experience disruptions, including traffic impacts linked to ongoing works.

The company emphasized that the fuel factor will continue to fluctuate in line with global trends, rising when international prices increase and falling when they decline.

For consumers already facing high utility costs, the latest adjustment reinforces how closely local electricity prices are tied to global events far beyond the region’s control.

With tensions in key oil-producing areas showing no clear resolution, and global supply routes remaining vulnerable, the outlook for fuel costs remains uncertain.

For now, Pelican Energy says it will continue to monitor international developments and keep customers informed — but the message is clear: what happens in global oil markets is being felt directly on electricity bills at home.

Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.

Turks and Caicos, March 30, 2026 – Millions of dollars in stalled projects and unspent staffing allocations came under fire in the House of Assembly on Monday, as Opposition Leader Edwin Astwood questioned the government’s efficiency during debate on a third Budget Supplementary.

Astwood’s critique came following the presentation by Premier and Finance Minister Charles Washington Misick and zeroed in on what he described as a troubling pattern of inefficiency, poor execution, and systemic underperformance across government.

Central to his argument was what appears to be a significant gap between what the government says it needs — and what it actually delivers.

“There is a serious issue that I’m seeing in the government in terms of staffing,” Astwood told the House, pointing to approximately $8.5 million in unspent human resource allocations.

“That can be misleading… it is positions that were not hired… positions that last year at this time we were told we greatly needed… but yet this year again we have some $8.5 million that was supposed to be spent on human resources, but sadly it never came to fruition.”

The Opposition Leader argued that the failure to fill key roles is directly linked to broader inefficiencies, including delayed or cancelled projects and reduced performance across ministries.

“You say you need these staff but you existed a whole year without these staff? Help me understand why you need this?” he challenged, adding that departments are being held accountable for outcomes without being given the necessary resources.

In a pointed analogy, Astwood compared the situation to sending an under-resourced army into battle.

“If I am a general… and I tell you what I need to accomplish the task… and you don’t give it to me… when I don’t accomplish my goal you can’t blame me.”

He said civil servants are repeatedly requesting manpower, skills and support, only for those requests to go unmet, while expectations remain unchanged.

The result, he suggested, is a cycle of underperformance driven not by lack of effort, but by lack of capacity.

Astwood also tied the staffing gaps to what he described as a consistent pattern of project cancellations across successive budget supplementaries.

“This is our third supplementary… at each one we had projects being cancelled or ‘rescoped’… but sadly many of those projects we do not see return to the budget.”

Among the projects cited as cut or delayed were community centres in Bottle Creek and The Bight, the Blue Hills signage project, upgrades to Fuller and Clementina Walker Park, and critical works to landfill infrastructure — all identified as important national priorities.

Particularly concerning, he said, is the timing of project execution.

Astwood revealed that as many as 20 projects were only put out to tender in the final weeks of the financial year, raising serious questions about planning and delivery.

“So one has a whole year, 52 weeks… and 49 out of 52 weeks these projects didn’t move,” he said.

“Is that efficiency… tendering projects in the last three weeks of the year?”

Projects ranging from road works and community infrastructure to mobile clinics, airport services, and police station repairs were all listed as being advanced only at the end of the fiscal cycle.

While some may argue that progress — even late — is better than none, Astwood rejected that notion.

“People might say better late than never, but is this efficiency? Is this how we want our government to be working?” he asked.

The Opposition Leader also raised concerns about leadership and accountability within government, questioning whether clear direction is being given to senior public officers.

“Were your instructions clear to your permanent secretaries, your directors, your heads of departments?” he asked.

“If it was clear, it is not your fault… but if it’s not clear… it is directly your fault.”

The remarks have now added to growing scrutiny over government performance, particularly as the country prepares for a new budget cycle and faces increasing demand for infrastructure, services and delivery.

With millions allocated but not spent, and key projects either delayed or removed entirely, the debate now turns to whether the issue is one of resources — or of execution.

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