News
Invest TCI and the Department of Agriculture hosted Twin Islands Agricultural Forum
#TurksandCaicos, February 11, 2022 – Invest TCI, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture on February 3rd, 2022, hosted the North Caicos and Middle Caicos Agricultural Forum 2022. With a strong focus on
Agriculture, the Government’s mandate is to invest heavily in agriculture so that the Turks and Caicos Islands can benefit from locally grown foods. Through Invest TCI’s MSME Programme and the Department of Agriculture’s Agro-Grant Incentive Programme, the Government will take a holistic approach to create a sustainable food supply for the country. These programmes will transform the agriculture sector through the provision of support for improved technology, expansion of operations, access to training and research, increased production, creation of employment and the development of niche markets. The communities of North Caicos and Middle Caicos were invited to learn about the programmes and to be a part of the Agricultural discussion.
The Agricultural Forum kicked off at 10 am in North Caicos at the Horsestable Beach Centre in Whitby and in Middle Caicos at the Conch Bar Community Center at 1 pm. In attendance were over 40 persons from the North Caicos community and more than 30 individuals in Middle Caicos. These included local farmers, agri-business representatives, and others who came out to learn about the assistance available through the Invest TCI’s MSME Programme and the Department of Agriculture’s Agro-Grant Incentive Programme. In addition, both communities were able to voice their opinions regarding the farming opportunities and challenges they faced.
Invest TCI’s MSME Programme provides support to start-up farmers by providing them with up to $10,000 in Cash Grants, up to $10,000 in Duty Concession and up to $10,000 in Technical Assistance. To be eligible, applicants must
have belonger status, a business license or letter of intent and a business plan.
The Agro-Grant Incentive Programme provides support to registered farmers who own 0.5 acres of land, actively farming, or are start-up farmers. The programme has three categories of support. The first category is the Improvement Programme which provides up to $20,000 in support. The second category is the New Farm Start-Up/Young Entrepreneurs which provides up to $15,000 to registered farmers between the ages of 18 – 25. The Disaster Relief category provides up to $20,000 in support in response to National Natural Disasters. The value of this grant will be 10% of the assessed damages.
Commenting on the event, Interim CEO For Invest TCI, Angela Musgrove, stated, “We were extremely delighted by the turnout in North Caicos and Middle Caicos. The participation and input from both communities were invaluable. It gave us a greater appreciation for some of the challenges that farmers face on these islands, and we can now look to resolve these issues and provide the resources they need to have sustainable businesses.
The Minister for Agriculture, Honourable Josephine Connolly, stated, “The Government’s goal is to develop and create business opportunities, to promote small businesses and ensure that all of our people can make a decent living and benefit from the MSME and Agro-Grant Incentive Programme. Agriculture and food security are major
challenges. The Government plans to invest heavily in food production. We will ensure that locals employed in food production, planning, fishing, and processing earn a good and decent living. The incentive grants will also motivate many to develop their respective farms. I expect great things for farmers and for those who wish to enter farming.”
The Hon. E. Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Investment, and Trade commenting on the Forum stated, “As Minister for Finance, I am pleased that we are able to increase the financial support to the agriculture industry through these initiatives. I look forward to seeing the impact on the sustainable development of our agriculture industry.”
To apply for the Invest TCI’s MSME Programme persons can contact Invest TCI at 649 338 4773 or visit the website at www.investturksandcaicos.tc. To apply for the Department of Agriculture’s Agro-Grant Incentive Programme, farmers can contact the Department of Agriculture at 649 338 5269 or via email at agriculture@gov.tc.
The Bahamas, August 27, 2026 – The Royal Bahamas Police Force wishes to inform members of the public that several individuals are scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 27th August 2026, at 12:00 noon.
The individuals and charges are as follows:
An 18-year-old female is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
Three (3) counts of Murder
Three (3) counts of Attempted Murder
Three (3) counts of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life
Three (3) counts of Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm
Two (2) counts of Possession of Ammunition
Armed Robbery
Abetment to Armed Robbery
Stealing
Receiving
The charges stem from three separate shooting incidents and an armed robbery that occurred on Friday, 21st August 2026, and Saturday, 22nd August 2026.
The first shooting occurred in the area of Soldier Road and Baillou Hill Road, resulting in the death of a 51-year-old male.
The second shooting occurred in the area of Joe Farrington Road, resulting in the death of a 52-year-old male.
The third shooting occurred in the area of Gladstone Road, resulting in the death of a 36-year-old male.
The armed robbery occurred at a business establishment in the area of Carmichael Road and Baillou Hill Road.
A 21-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on one charge of:
- Murder
The charge stems from a shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, in the area of Samson Street, Nassau Village, which resulted in the death of a 28-year-old male.
A 32-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
- Murder
- Attempted Murder
These charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday, 24th December 2025, in the area of Graham Drive, Yellow Elder, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old male.
RBPF, PACD
by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — In a country where government press conferences are virtually non-existent, ministers are often difficult for
journalists to access and regular broadcast television news has disappeared, TCI Innovation, Technology and Energy Minister E. Jay Saunders has challenged Caribbean media to become “impossible to ignore.”
Speaking at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union gathering, Saunders argued that the Caribbean does not have a relevance problem but a “discoverability and positioning problem.”
Discoverability is precisely the issue in Saunders’ home country. Even Government’s own attempts at video news broadcasting have struggled against the realities of consistently producing a daily, weekly or even monthly newscast.
The difficulties confronting TCI media extend well beyond algorithms: limited advertising revenue, underfunding, shortages of trained professionals and insufficient human capacity leave newsrooms struggling for both staff and stamina.
Then there is the reality of operating in one of the region’s smallest societies. Politicians, journalists, advertisers, businesses and the subjects of stories often exist within the same tight economic and social circles. A controversial report that might create a ripple elsewhere can produce a tsunami in TCI, intensifying concerns among journalists about commercial and professional victimisation.
Saunders believes AI can help.
He urged Caribbean media to use the technology to transform one original story into television, radio, web, podcast, social and translated content without multiplying newsroom workload.
He also wants regional journalism structured so AI systems can find, understand and trust Caribbean sources, moving media beyond traditional SEO into Answer Engine Optimisation.
His ultimate message was emphatic: “Use AI not to make Caribbean media more artificial — but to make Caribbean voices more visible.”
For Turks and Caicos media, however, becoming visible may require more than technology. It requires an environment in which journalism can survive.
That last sentence is where I think we land the plane. It acknowledges that EJ actually has some us
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
