News
The Un-Stated State of the State
By Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
A woman says she was going shopping at a front road located grocery store when an armed gunman threatened her with a pistol and grabbed her bag. She told friends she was so shaken-up, she fled the scene and did not wait around for anything or anyone.
A rampage is on in Providenciales and no one is off limits to the overly aggressive males who have high-jacked peace of mind. Worst of all, no one is speaking out.
Security video from Liz Bakery was appalling. A gun shoved in the face of a little girl, her small monies snatched… women forced faced down on the floor and high powered weapons brandished in an environment which was anything but combative; come on this is our hometown, home grown, native bakery we’re talking about.
Then, the horrifying news that a little girl, only 10-years-old, was grased by a bullet in an armed invasion. I wonder if this little girl was visited by government ministers and police; like the tourist man was when he was shot by a gun toting thug.
No advocacy from community or country leaders and it is this news organisation’s strong view, based on the variety of comments we receive, that this lack of public demonstration of concern and outrage is doing more damage than the criminals behind the crimes.
Another burning point; the hospital care in the country and its severe limitations. 
Residents are dying at home and abroad and many believe it could be needlessly. It continues to be a mystery, why TCI would return millions of dollars it is approved for by a major regional bank and the United Kingdom when we desperately need a trauma center to deliver on this kind of medical care at home.
An entire wing of the Cheshire Hall Medical Center is a ghost town, waiting to be brought to life and to serve some medical need of this little country.
Efforts at medical tourism are shelved when arguably, our nation provides an idyllic escape for those recuperating from medical procedures and while the TCI is small, it is obviously rich but cannot serve patients who need Intensive Care.
No intensive care unit in a country which welcomes 1.6 million tourists a year and has a home population of another 45,000. Surely this can’t be right, it is certainly not good.
While nearby countries are prepared to take our US dollars, they are unprepared to adapt their laws to allow grieved loved ones who lose a relative to get them back in one piece and not dust. Do we need stronger negotiators at the table because Magnetic Media is aware of a Turks and Caicos Islander who was returned to the country as a whole person after dying in the DR, reportedly to COVID-19. All it took was heart and mental muscle – thank you to Evan Spencer of Spence Security.
At this point, based on the issues our news company is fielding on a daily basis, the optics on all of this are horrible and while the premier and opposition leader squabble over who has the money, islanders are increasingly afraid to visit stores for goods they need but can hardly afford and wonder, what happens to me or my loved ones if there is traumatic injury that the TCI Hospitals cannot handle.
High paying, high security, high profile jobs are not getting done, but it continues to be business as usual when results in many cases are deplorable.
How do you keep your job when you’re failing at it? Words like accountability and transparency are tossed about, but they do not only refer to making information known; they also beg integrity when fulfilling the contract requirements.
Money is sweet but the people of the Turks and Caicos need more than money and if this journalist has to tell one what the people need, then maybe it’s time to end the contract and let’s get someone else who does know, to give the jobs a try.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 25 February 2026: Staff of the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) participated in a one‑day Professional Staff Development Workshop on Thursday, 19th February 2026. The session was facilitated by former DDME Director (2011–2021) and current Permanent Secretary of the Governor’s Office, Dr. Virginia Clerveaux.
The in-house workshop was organised by the DDME Training Unit, to focus on the National Disaster Management Framework, strengthening staff understanding of their roles and responsibilities within disaster management. The session also aimed to enhance the effectiveness of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and reinforce inter‑agency coordination.
Drawing on her extensive experience in disaster management in the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as several deployments to CDEMA member states including Haiti, The Bahamas, and Jamaica, Dr. Clerveaux provided practical insights that reinforced key concepts and clarified operational expectations. Staff members actively participated in discussions and shared recommendations to improve sub‑committee performance and overall departmental efficiency.
To support learning retention, the workshop incorporated pre‑ and post‑assessments, enabling participants to evaluate their understanding and track improvements.
Acting Director of DDME, Mr. Kevaun Lucas stated: “Investing in the continued development of our team is essential to strengthening national resilience. This and future planned workshops will help to reinforce our commitment to building a highly skilled, well‑coordinated workforce capable of leading and supporting disaster management efforts across the Turks and Caicos Islands. I am proud of the team’s engagement and encouraged by the meaningful contributions they made throughout the session.”
This Professional Staff Development Workshop forms part of DDME’s ongoing commitment to enhancing internal capacity, strengthening operational coordination and improving overall departmental synergy as the agency continues to advance national preparedness and response capabilities.
Photo Captions:
Caribbean News
Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion
Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.
The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.
“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital
policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.
“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”
Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.
Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.
Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”
Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.
Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.
Photo Caption:
TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 20 February 2026 — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in collaboration with key
government agencies, coordinated a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Block and Parcel 60609/33 in the Five Cays area.
The exercise was led by the Crown Land Unit, pursuant to its statutory mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land. The ISU coordinated the operation, with support provided by the Planning Department and the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, while the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force ensured security throughout the activity.
The enforcement action followed a series of inspections conducted by the Crown Land Unit throughout Five Cays, which identified several illegally constructed buildings made of concrete and timber on sections of the subject parcel. In keeping with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance, occupied structures were served Letters of Illegal Occupation, delivered by hand to occupants and
posted on structures where individuals were absent. Incomplete and unoccupied structures were served Notices of Unauthorized Occupation pursuant to section 22 of the Ordinance. A total of ten (10) Letters of Illegal Occupation and three (3) Notices of Unauthorized Occupation were issued during the exercise.
The Informal Settlements Unit reiterates that these coordinated enforcement exercises form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the law, protect Crown land, and manage informal settlements in a structured and lawful manner. Members of the public are reminded that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown land is unlawful and subject to enforcement action.
