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Crime, NIB & Cost of Living:  The PDM Speaks extensively on Big National Issues

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By Deandrea Hamilton

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#TurksandCaicos, February 15, 2022 – Edwin Astwood and Robert Been, of the People’s Democratic Movement party had a lot to say when they sat down with Magnetic Media about a number of nationally pressing issues including the level of violent crime, the rising cost of living and plans to raise worker taxes through the National Insurance Board.

As the Opposition party, People’s Democratic Movement  continues to get louder on matters, which are irking the general public, the messages are resonating and demonstrating that despite having just one elected seat in the House of Assembly, the PDM intends to bring brawny representation.

Edwin Astwood, the PDM’s Leader and Leader of Opposition business in parliament, said cost of living in Turks and Caicos is simply too high, and raising the minimum wage is not enough of an answer.  During the one on one session, February 3, Astwood said bringing up the lowest wage does nothing for those who are not earning minimum wage, so the change needs to come at the border with customs duties.

“Those are the two things that have to be looked at, the duties, our islanders are paying in order to reduce the cost to the suppliers; they will then have to pass that savings on to the consumer, or Government can look at the amount of money that people are making.”

Both men had a lot to say about the spate of crime and how it is being handled.  Astwood, who said he was among the panelists at the public meeting held recently by Police in Grand Turk, said he was also on the receiving end of harsh words from a frustrated public.

The party’s leader shared that he and Been have met directly with the Royal TCI Police about crime and crime fighting.

“It was a very helpful, very useful, very detailed and respectful discussion. Ideas were bounced back and forth. He listened to our ideas, what can work, what cannot work, what can be implemented, what cannot be implemented, and we have an idea on the way forward.”

During the interview, which lasted just over an hour, we were reminded about Robert Been’s campaign stance on crime.  The Deputy Party Leader of the PDM has advocated for community policing to be enhanced and he put forth an idea to do it, affordably.  He still wants to see mobile police stations, and said after their chat with the RTCIPF, the concept seems to be on the way.

“Substation units; which are mobile where you can have a station in an area one minute and the next ten to fifteen minutes it can be in another area. What this does, is it basically deters criminal activities and crime from happening. As leaders we met the assistant commissioner (of Police) on Monday (Jan 31) and we discussed a whole number of topics and again that came up, so Police are looking to invest in the substations.”

Been said communities like Wheeland and Kew Town, the former is one of the furthest flung residential districts; the latter is one of the most crime ridden in the country – would benefit from the pop up police stations.

“It could also be used as a station in the event of a crime, when it is happening.  It could be like a headquarters and the whole idea is to bring back the trust within the community.”

Robert Been said it was unconfirmed during their meeting if there would be one or two mobile police stations to start, but the duo felt confident the Police were moving toward the concept in an effort to abate crime.

“As your opposition, we will definitely be putting pressure on this current administration to bring that mobile station to fruition,’ he said.

A youth survey conducted by the Department of Youth Affairs and published in the National Youth Policy revealed that young people are afraid to live in their neighbourhoods.  They are fearful of being sexually assaulted and/or robbed.

We asked the PDM about the fear among youths and whether the opposition feels the Police is giving the country its money’s worth in the fight against crime.

Been, one of the youngest candidates to run on the ballot, still considered in the category of youth himself, shared that Police presence is vital.

“We need to get more community and neighbourhood watch programs.  It is something which has been missing from neighbourhoods, and while I cannot confirm if it is present now in any neighbourhood, I think it is a solution to help in reducing some of the criminal activities and again working to build back the confidence of the people in Police,” said Been.

Edwin Astwood disagrees with the school of thought which says that national security is the Governor’s job.

“We put the funding there, we direct how we want it to be spent, we don’t have to be involved in the technical issues, we are not asking for that.  But it is our responsibility.  We as elected officials have the main role to play and we have to start playing our role even more,” said Astwood who also offered that Police need to present its full plan for full funding.

He does not agree with a piecemeal approach to the funding of national security initiatives.

“Instead of just allocating a certain budget to deal with it (issue of fighting crime) just for this year, maybe we need to do it in a one  big purchase phase and get all the resources they might need.”

In a recent Budget Supplementary under the current government administration, Royal TCI Police is earmarked to receive over $1 million dollars including $50,000 to support a gun amnesty program.

A vexing issue for islanders is the announcement that in two months, April 2022, the government has approved for the National Insurance Board to raise contribution rates across the board.

While NIB Executives, including its project manager of the now controversial increase – Walter Gardiner, Sr – have been making the media circuit to educate the public on the need for the hike, the PDM recently held a meeting with Rhesa Cartwright, Director and Diandra Mills, Deputy Director on the coming change.

“They gave us two important dates; 2027 when the current contribution rates will not be able to pay the current obligations and 2049, if we have to tap into the reserves, we will completely wipe out the reserves… that’s only 17 years from now,” said Mr. Astwood.

The NIB is running out of time and out of options when it comes to how the public fund will be protected from running out of money.

Edwin Astwood,  seems to be learning more about the challenges at the National Insurance Board than he did when he was a minister in the last government.  He said the PDM was hesitant on activating the increase because they felt it was too much for people at the time; now, he is briefed about two to three other options not being explored to bring greater fiscal buoyancy.

Two of them are:  expand the investment portfolio and stop the fiscal leakage.

“So, you look at either investments, administration cause or the contributions. So, they decide that the best way is to increase the contributions to reach it up to their twelve percent, but we were thinking to gain one other investment. More could be done in investments. Now, there’s $40 million for local investment and I don’t think that is barely touched.”

People are also conning the NIB’s system.  Contributors are claiming injury after three years knowing that if supported, this could serve them up regular payments from NIB as still move toward qualifying for the NIB pension after ten years.

This crookery is costing the TCI big money, the PDM leaders exposed.

“Another thing that we gathered that what has been happening, is that even if you have a person who have left the country over nine years you still have some persons paying to reach the ten year. So, it’s all about putting the right policies in place.

“There are loopholes, and these came out of discussions because we were having discussions and asking questions.”
Robert Been said it does not seem likely there will be a change of heart, however.

“Its only time that’s against the whole system so I think (she said) the government didn’t ask for any delays and even if delays were to be considered I don’t think they would extend more than three to six months.”

It boils down to political will and Board approval.  The public has expressed deep concern about the 12 per cent increase, which will take on a staggered implementation beginning in April 2022.

“Let NIB invest here. It is a policy decision, it has to come from the policy makers and that is us, that is the government that is in place.”

News

Liberty Business launches in Turks and Caicos Islands

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enabling digital transformation across key sectors and supporting enterprise customers

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (September 17, 2026) – Liberty Business has officially launched in the Turks and Caicos Islands, signalling the company’s continued transformation and strengthening its commitment to helping businesses navigate digital change, drive growth and build greater resilience.

The announcement was made during a special stakeholder event attended by government representatives, business leaders, industry partners, customers and members of the media, marking the next chapter in the company’s long-standing relationship with the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“Today represents far more than the introduction of a new name. It reflects our continued evolution as a business and our commitment to being a trusted technology partner for organisations navigating an increasingly digital economy,” said Susanna O’Sullivan, Vice President General Manager, Flow North Caribbean, Liberty Caribbean.

“Through Liberty Business, we are bringing together the strength and capabilities of Liberty Caribbean with local expertise to help businesses across the Turks and Caicos Islands connect, protect, innovate and grow. We want to be a partner that understands the ambitions of our customers and works alongside them to create meaningful business value.”

Liberty Caribbean is the operator of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, serving customers across more than twenty markets in the region.

The launch of Liberty Business builds on the company’s long-standing presence in the Turks and Caicos Islands and its continued investment in communications infrastructure, technology and digital capabilities across the Caribbean.

Today, Liberty Caribbean operates one of the region’s most extensive communications networks, supported by approximately 50,000 kilometres of subsea and terrestrial fibre infrastructure, helping enable resilient, secure and high-performance connectivity across the region.

For businesses, the evolution comes at a time when technology is playing an increasingly important role in productivity, customer experience, cybersecurity, business continuity and growth.

“Businesses today need more than connectivity. They need technology solutions that can help them operate efficiently, protect their information, support their people and respond to change. We are excited to begin this next chapter with businesses in the Turks and Caicos Islands and to work together to build a smarter, stronger, more resilient and more connected digital future,” said O’Sullivan.

Liberty Business brings together an integrated portfolio of enterprise solutions, including advanced connectivity, cybersecurity, cloud services, data centre solutions, managed services, enterprise mobility and unified communications under a single brand dedicated to supporting the evolving needs of business customers.

Also speaking at the launch, Joanne Missick, Country Manager, Flow Turks and Caicos Islands, said the introduction of Liberty Business demonstrates the company’s commitment to evolving alongside the local business community.

“The Turks and Caicos Islands is a dynamic market with tremendous potential, and our businesses are increasingly embracing technology as an enabler of growth,” said Missick.

“From tourism and hospitality to financial services, real estate, construction, professional services and entrepreneurship, organisations are looking for ways to become more efficient, secure and resilient. Liberty Business gives us the opportunity to engage our customers differently – understanding their individual needs and helping them identify technology solutions that can support their ambitions.”

Missick added that the company’s approach is centred on building lasting relationships with businesses and providing solutions that address real-world challenges.

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Education

TCI Schools Invited to Participate in 2026 National Student Council Election

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 17 September 2026: The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture has partnered with the Turks and Caicos Islands Elections Department to bring an exciting national election experience directly to high school students across the country with the launch of the 2026 National Student Council (NSC) Election.

Held under the theme “Your Voice. Your Country. Your Future.”, the initiative will give students from all 14 public and private high schools the chance to campaign, vote and compete for national student leadership positions, while gaining first-hand experience of the electoral process.

Minister of Education, Hon. Rachel Taylor, said the initiative gives young people a national platform to share their ideas and develop their leadership skills.

“Our young people have ideas, opinions and perspectives that deserve to be heard, and this election gives them a national platform to use their voices in a meaningful way. We want our students to step forward with confidence, share the issues that matter to them and experience what it means to lead and represent others.” She continued, “I am particularly excited to see students from schools across the Turks and Caicos Islands getting involved, supporting their candidates and participating in the voting process. I encourage every school to embrace this opportunity and help us create an experience that our students will learn from and enjoy.”

Each high school will nominate one student candidate to represent their school at the national level. Candidates will campaign for the positions of President and Vice President, sharing their ideas, priorities and plans with student voters across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Both positions will be decided by electronic vote among high school students across the country.

The remaining four positions on the six-member National Student Council:  Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Public Relations Officer. will be determined through an internal vote among the top candidates following the national election.

The election will mirror several elements of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ electoral process. Candidates will choose a party name, colour and symbol, develop a manifesto and campaign slogan, and make their case to student voters. Their names, party information and symbols will appear on an electronic ballot, giving students the opportunity to experience the process as both candidates and voters.

Acting Elections Supervisor Willette Pratt stated that the timing of the initiative is particularly significant as the country continues its focus on civic awareness and youth participation.

“Coming on the heels of Constitution Day and as we prepare to celebrate National Youth Week this September, this is a timely opportunity to put civic education into practice. We want young people to understand that democracy is not only about casting a vote; it is about being informed, participating and understanding that their voice matters. We are excited to see our schools and students embrace the experience.”

Once students are selected and endorsed by their school, candidates must submit a completed Candidate Information Form, a Student Manifesto of no more than 250 words, and a 45- to 60-second Campaign Video PSA introducing themselves and outlining the issues and priorities they hope to champion.

Candidates are expected to campaign fairly and respectfully, focusing on ideas, student issues and their plans as aspiring student leaders. Personal attacks, bullying, false or misleading information, and offering gifts or incentives in exchange for votes are prohibited. Breaches of the campaign code of conduct may result in the loss of campaign privileges or disqualification.

For candidates, it is a chance to share their ideas and test their leadership skills on a national platform. For student voters, it is an opportunity to have a say in who represents them and experience the electoral process first-hand.

With candidate selection underway, the Elections Department and Ministry of Education are looking forward to seeing students step forward, bring their ideas to the campaign and, ultimately, seeing young voters across the country make their choice at the ballot.

The 2026 National Student Council Election is an opportunity for young people to do more than learn about leadership and democracy — it gives them the chance to take part. Your Voice. Your Country. Your Future.

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Health

Know the Possible Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer

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September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month – which means it is time to watch out for the warning signs. Possible signs include slow urine flow and loss of bladder control — but if this common cancer is caught before it spreads, the prognosis is good.

Your prostate is only about the size of a walnut. But this small gland can cause big problems if left unchecked.

Warning signs of prostate cancer

“Most men with prostate cancer don’t have symptoms at first,” says urologist Christopher Weight, MD. But if you notice certain warning signs, like changes in your pee routine or pain, it’s a good idea to visit a urologist.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. But when it’s found early, it’s also one of the most treatable. Knowing the signs and talking with a healthcare provider about screening could save your life.

So, what should you look out for?

Slow or weak urine flow

Trouble starting to pee — called urinary hesitancy — is common as men get older. You may also notice slow flow or dribbling. Or your flow may stop altogether. The most common cause is benign prostatic hyperplasia. Still, if you experience these symptoms, it’s important to get your prostate checked.

Frequent need to urinate

A frequent and sometimes urgent need to urinate, especially at night, may be a sign of nerve damage or an infection. Or it could indicate that a tumor is putting pressure on your bladder and urethra.

Painful or burning urination

Pain or burning when you pee — called dysuria — is usually linked to a urinary tract infection (UTI). But in some cases, it can signal prostate cancer. This is especially true when it’s paired with other symptoms.

Blood in your urine

Another possible warning sign of prostate cancer is hematuria, or blood in your pee. Though this can be associated with other health issues, including a UTI, it’s worth checking out.

Prostate pain

Unexplained prostate pain — especially when sitting — can be an early sign of trouble. “It might also mean an infection, but only your urologist can say for certain,” Dr. Weight says.

Loss of bladder or bowel control

Bladder or bowel incontinence can happen with age or other medical conditions. But if you’re leaking urine or can’t control bowel movements, talk to a doctor to rule out prostate cancer.

Changes in sexual function

These symptoms can stem from many causes, but they may also signal prostate cancer. Talk to a urologist if you notice:

  • Painful ejaculation
  • Decreased volume of ejaculation
  • Inability to keep an erection
  • Blood in your semen (hematospermia)

Sexual health is a vital part of your overall well-being. So, if something feels off, it’s not just OK to speak up — it’s vital.

Later-stage signs

These symptoms often only appear when prostate cancer has spread:

  • Ongoing pain in your lower back, hips or chest
  • Numbness in your legs or feet

“Of course, there are endless other reasons that your back may hurt or that you have tingling in your toes that are entirely separate from any prostate troubles. But they can also be signs of later stages of prostate cancer,” Dr. Weight clarifies.

Importance of prostate cancer screening

“Since early-stage prostate cancer doesn’t cause symptoms, many men don’t know they have it,” Dr. Weight notes. “That’s why regular screening is so important — it helps catch prostate cancer early, when treatment is most effective.”

A healthcare provider may recommend screening if you’re between the ages of 55 and 69, or earlier if you have a family history or other risk factors.

Screening might feel uncomfortable to think about, but skipping it could mean missing a chance to catch prostate cancer early, when it’s easier to treat.

“A simple blood test, often followed by a physical exam if needed, gives your doctor important information about your prostate health,” Dr Weight says.
Early detection doesn’t just improve treatment options — it can also give you peace of mind.

Lower your risk of prostate cancer

“You can’t do anything about some of the risk factors for prostate cancer, like age or family history,” Dr. Weight recognizes. “But you can make lifestyle choices that support a healthier prostate.”

These small steps may make a difference:

  • Get regular prostate screenings.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Eat a nutritious diet.
  • Quit smoking.

“When prostate cancer is diagnosed before it spreads to other parts of the body, about 99% of people live at least five years after diagnosis,” he continues. “But the survival rate is much lower if the cancer has spread.”

That’s why it’s so important to stay proactive. Regular screenings, healthy habits and paying attention to changes in your body can make all the difference. Talk to a provider about the right plan for you.

CREDIT: CLEVELAND CLINIC

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