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.
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
