News
Millions of documents scanned, Years to get there before TCI gets Effective E-Government System
Projects & Plans Explained by Finance Minister E. Jay Saunders
#TurksandCaicos, November 16, 20321 – The goal is not simply turning paper documents into electronic ones or connecting everyone to the government’s services via the internet. It requires understanding inefficiencies in the systems, improving them and then capturing those essential hard copy files in such a way that the Turks and Caicos Islands Government would be able to, far into the future, access even the content upon each document in order to raise customer service levels and heighten efficiency. And it will not be easy; the Turks and Caicos is looking at years before the process is completed, and longer than anticipated before it is implemented.
Eight months in office and the PNP Administration is still in the information gathering stage in the transition to E-Government.
“What we’ve spent the first couple of months doing around E-government is an information gathering exercise to find out what Government has first before we start to build around it. It’s taken a bit longer than we would have expected,” said E. Jay Saunders, Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade.
Saunders, who is also the country’s Deputy Premier, is pegged to lead the reformation.
In the Progressive National Party’s campaign manifesto: A Citizen’s Contract 2021, the objectives and benefits of a Digital Government are outlined and residents are ready for the change.
Excerpt: “A Digital Government will save the TCI millions of dollars, ensure efficient, effective and equitable delivery of public service, build public trust, ensure transparency, participation and collaboration between government agencies. Your next PNP Government will be digitized…”
To jump start the digitization of government, the newly elected PNP Administration earmarked $2 Million in this year’s fiscal budget.
“We’re now trying to move very quickly and my concern is that we have a lot to do before the end of this term. So we are going to have a number of things in parallel but the most important thing that we are trying to do right now and what we have started to do is – from a few months ago – the information gathering exercise and prioritizing a number of projects.”
Prioritized are the Road Safety Department and the Land Registry Department. In both agencies, documents to be captured electronically number in the hundreds of thousands and their operational processes have been the subject of public criticism.
“The Land Registry has – in round numbers – over 700,000 documents that they need scanned about 12,000 of them are water-logged because they got caught in the hurricane. And they cannot be taken out of their water logged stated otherwise they will become dry out and brittle and so we have to come up with a way to understanding how we are going to scan those documents,” said deputy premier Saunders in a press conference on November 8.
Hon Saunders revealed the solution to this incredible challenge is not found in scanning each document individually.
“If you know the Land Registry documents, the form isn’t a standard shape and its hand-written and crossed out. And then being able to scan those and have people make sense of them, so that you are able to search them.”
Each vital document will require data entry staff, accurately giving every file an electronic tag. This, explained Minister Saunders will ensure when the information is searched, it can be promptly located for seamless, proficient service.
“You’re never going to scan 750,000 documents with three or four people, even ten persons on a flat-bed scanner. You need industrial scanners that can scan hundreds of pages per minute. So what we will do is build capacity in Government, where persons jobs are data entry but its around digital data entry.”
These data entry clerks will cater to truck-loads of information at a time; that was the picture the deputy premier painted when he address media and the nation from the Office of the Premier in Providenciales two weeks ago.
The industrial powered scanners will accelerate the conversion process with TCIG information uploaded to a cloud system. It was reiterated that the work toward a digital government is more than securing an electronic copy of government files, it requires systems overhauls that work to reduce the current frustrations on all sides of service.
“Let’s take the Ministry of Home Affairs again, the Road (Safety) and Traffic Departments; before we go in there and say ‘this is what they need’, we wanted to know what they had first. We need to go in there and understand what it is they are trying to achieve, because the last thing we wanted to do is take inefficiencies and bring the same inefficiencies into an electronic system.”
Over the next few weeks, islanders, who are anticipating the advent of e-government can expect to hear what projects, will be tackled first. The PNP Administration is working to fulfill a key election campaign promise, through a man who is an award winning tech-wiz, having crafted his own e-wallet.
“If you think about it, Government will have millions of documents that we need to scan in order to make the E-Government useful,” said Hon Saunders admitting that the old information stuck in analog is just as valuable as the new information which can be digitized now. “We need to get through that exercise by scanning and it’s a huge exercise. It won’t be finished within this term. It will be a multi- term, multi-million dollar exercise.”
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
News
BermudAir Launches New York Area’s First Nonstop Service to South Caicos, Now Just a 3.5 Hour Flight from Newark
Twice-Weekly Nonstop Flights Begin December 20 with Fares from $347 One Way, Creating Direct Access to Salterra Resort & Spa
– New Route Expands BermudAir’s Winter Turks & Caicos Network –
[New York, NY – August 20, 2026] – BermudAir, the leading premium leisure carrier to Bermuda and the Caribbean, today announced it will introduce nonstop flights to South Caicos from Newark this winter. The route places one of the Caribbean’s most secluded island destinations just 3.5 hours from the New York area for the first time.
The new service starts on December 20, 2026, operating on Sundays and Thursdays, and will be the only nonstop service to the destination
from the New York area. This seasonal service will operate through April 25, 2027. Fares start at $347 one way ($773 roundtrip) and go on sale today.
The new South Caicos route creates gives travelers two distinct luxury resort options, with direct access to Salterra, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, recently named the No. 1 resort in Turks and Caicos by Condé Nast Traveler.
Set across 85 beachfront acres with a 3,000-foot private white-sand beach, Salterra brings a full luxury resort experience to an island still defined by its historic salinas, pristine waters, bonefishing flats and uninhabited cays. Upon landing at South Caicos International Airport (XSC), guests are approximately 10 minutes from the resort.
While flights go on sale today, the airline’s BermudAir Holidays vacation-packaging division will offer curated travel to South Caicos from next month, featuring flights, hotels and authentic island experiences, with bundled discounts and value-added perks, making it even easier to explore the destination.
Previously BermudAir announced seven new routes to Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, from Newark (EWR), Boston (BOS), Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), St Petersburg/Tampa (PIE) and Toronto (YYZ) which will all start in December except for Fort Lauderdale which begins October 26.
Expanded Winter Season
- To South Caicos:
- Twice-weekly nonstop from Newark (Sundays and Thursdays) from December 20 through April 25, 2027.
- To Turks and Caicos:
- Weekly nonstop from Newark (Saturdays) and one weekly direct service (Thursdays) from December 19 through April 29, 2027;
- Weekly nonstop service from Boston (Saturdays), from December 19 through May 1, 2027;
- Weekly nonstop service from Baltimore-Washington (Thursdays), from December 24 through April 29, 2027;
- Twice-weekly nonstop service from Raleigh-Durham (Thursdays and Sundays), from December 20 through May 2, 2027;
- Thrice-weekly service from Fort Lauderdale (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays), from October 26 through May 3, 2027;
- Twice-weekly nonstop service from St Petersburg/Tampa (Mondays and Thursdays), from December 21 through May 3, 2027; and
- Weekly nonstop service from Toronto (Saturdays), from December 19 through May 1, 2027.
“We’re thrilled to continue expanding our Caribbean network as the premium leisure carrier from North America,” said Adam Scott, Founder and CEO of BermudAir. “Now New Yorkers can fly nonstop to two distinct sides of the Turks and Caicos Islands — Providenciales and the secluded island of South Caicos, home to the exquisite Salterra and Sailrock South Caicos resorts.”
The airline consistently earns Net Promoter Scores of 70+, one of the highest ratings in the airline industry. All flights will be operated on comfortable Embraer E190 aircraft, offering passengers the airline’s signature warm service and authentic island hospitality.
“South Caicos has always felt worlds away, and that is part of its magic,” said Michael Tibbetts, Founder and CEO of Salterra. “Beginning this winter, guests can fly nonstop from Newark in 3.5 hours, land at one of the newest international airports in the region and be at Salterra minutes later. This route makes a long weekend escape and an extended stay to one of the Caribbean’s most unspoiled islands remarkably easy, without changing the sense of discovery that makes South Caicos so special.”
For more information or to book flights, visit www.flybermudair.com. Salterra will offer dedicated stay packages timed to BermudAir’s Thursday and Sunday nonstop service. To book a stay at Salterra, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, visit www.salterra.com
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Dasani products, proudly sponsored the fifth annual, Caribbean Hoopfest.
The tournament brings together Bahamian high school basketball teams and visiting teams from the United States for a competitive
showcase at the Kendal G. L. Isaacs Gymnasium. Following its inaugural year at the Kendal G. L. Isaacs gym and last year’s event at Loyola Hall, the tournament returned to the Kendal G. L. Isaacs gym this year.
During the weekend tournament, CBC kept athletes well hydrated with in-kind donations of Dasani Water, Powerade and Minute Maid Juices.
During the tournament’s final day, CBC provided additional support by offering Sprite No Sugar samples and inviting attendees to participate in its Spin the Wheel for a chance to win exciting prizes.
CBC was proud to support this incredible event, which provides young Bahamian athletes with valuable exposure to U.S. basketball scouts and coaches. This opportunity gives them the chance to earn scholarships, continue their education, and pursue their basketball careers in the United States.
Event organizer, Donald Francois shared his appreciation for CBC’s support.
“I want to express our sincere appreciation for Caribbean Bottling Company, who has been a tremendous supporter and an important part of the success of our program. Without CBC’s support, Caribbean Hoop Fest would not be able to function at the level it does today. And without Caribbean Hoop Fest, we would not have been able to provide the opportunities that have helped young Bahamian athletes gain exposure and pursue educational opportunities in the United States,” he expressed.
Since the program’s inception, several Bahamian student-athletes have been selected for scholarship opportunities, highlighting the
tournament’s growing impact on the development and advancement of young basketball talent in The Bahamas.
They are: Kelvin McDowells – Guard, Wodson Antoine – Power Forward, Justin Lafleur – Guard and Sean John – Guard.
After another successful edition of the tournament, Francois shared what he hopes he and Caribbean Bottling Company can achieve in the future.
“Our vision is bigger than basketball. We want to use the platform of Caribbean Hoop Fest to educate, develop, and create opportunities for young people and their families throughout the Bahamas. With individuals and organizations committed to our mission, we believe we can continue to grow the program and make an even greater impact,” Francois said.
For more details on community support, events and new products visit Caribbean Bottling Company at www.cbcbahamas.com today.
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