News
Can Residents Count on TCI Businesses to Pass on Savings?
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 16, 2022 – Consumers will be largely dependent on the good graces of retail store owners, utility providers and fuel supplies to benefit from the $15 million dollar Food and Fuel Tax Break announced by the PNP Administration on Tuesday night.
It’s an historic move and monitoring whether the savings are wholly passed down to the marketplace is uncharted territory for the Turks and Caicos. Never before has the country had a consumer protection arm but E. Jay Saunders, the Minister for Finance, Investment and Trade has promised that his team at the Department of Consumer Protection will conduct spot checks.
“We will have someone going in and checking; getting the baseline prices between now and April 1st and monitoring them straight through.” He said.
Saunders noted than on average, globally food prices have increased 2.5%. Those prices range from a drop in the cost of eggs by 0.5% to a considerable jump in the cost of seafood, at 4%.
When it comes to the price of oil by the barrel, the Finance Minister gave a comparative report: in February 2020, oil by the barrel dipped to $55.66. By February 2022 that cost climbed to $97.13 per barrel; a 75 per cent increase in two years. By March this year, a barrel of oil rocketed to $120.00.
“We’re dropping the CPF on everything all items across the board so you should see savings in your cost of living immediately.”
Immediately in this context is April 1 2022, which is when the duty concession kicks in.
In terms of electricity Saunders said with the 2.5% savings households should automatically see a reduction in their electricity charges.
The concessions will last one year and the Minister sounded convinced that if there was a need to activate a stringent Price Control Unit, the Government would be willing to staff and mobilise that branch of the Consumer Protection Department.
“I would like to think people are good people.” He said in response to our questions on whether he trusted the commercial sector to be honest in their pricing going forward.
“And I would like to think that the suppliers will work along with the Government to pass the savings down on to the consumer very easily. So I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt.”
The Government has given fuel suppliers especially two ways to cut costs on gas to the public. As of April 1st the price at the pump for gas should be a minimum of 21 cents cheaper per gallon because of a drop in duty on both the fuel tax and Customs Processing Fee.
With fuel suppliers playing fair and passing on their savings from the drop in the CPF and the government’s agreement to take in less on the fuel tax, gas-buying consumers should see a significant change in prices at the pump.
If ‘good faith’ fails though, and price gouging is suspected, Deputy Premier Saunders said residents can access support at the Consumer Protection Department via email or a visit.
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.
February is National Self- Check Month and family medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, OH, John Hanicak, MD, highlights why at home self-checks are extremely important when it comes to not just early cancer detection but identifying other illnesses too and offers tips on what to look out for.
“Sometimes I look at them as sort of like your check engine light on the car, just like there would be a red flashing light that tells you that
there’s something wrong with a car and prompts you to bring that in and get serviced. Your body does the same thing. It gives you warning signs to look into that symptom a little bit further,” said Hanicak.
Dr. Hanicak said self-checks are going to be a little different for everyone.
However, in general, he recommends looking for anything that may seem abnormal, such as unexplained weight loss, blood in your urine, bumps and bruises that won’t heal, and changes in bowel habits.
For example, if you suddenly start going to the bathroom a lot more than you used to, that could be a sign of something more serious.
He also suggests doing regular skin checks and documenting any moles or spots that start to look different.
“Realize that you are your own person. There’s nobody else in the world exactly like you. You’ve got your own set of ideas, your own family history and your own genetics. Know what is normal for you, and when that changes, that’s the kind of thing that we would be interested in talking about,” said Dr. Hanicak.
Dr. Hanicak notes that self-checks are not meant to replace cancer screenings, as those are just as important to keep up with.
Press Release: Cleveland Clinic
