By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, February 24, 2023

Housing Concerns

The issue of insufficient housing must be addressed, admitted TCI Premier, if there is to be a population boom in the Turks and Caicos Islands.  The country’s leader was hosting his second diaspora meeting in The Bahamas; this time in Freeport, Grand Bahama amidst an immigration push to attract third-generation Turks and Caicos Islanders.

“The need for housing is expanding so rapidly that we estimate we’re going to need around 600 houses per year for the foreseeable future,” he explained.

The announcement came within weeks of bi-lateral exchange between Jamell Robinson, the TCI Minister of Physical Planning, and Infrastructure Development and JoBeth Colby-Davis, Bahamian Minister of Transport and Housing.

The Premier described the potential of a housing shortage as a point of serious concern for his government.

“In inviting people from the diaspora to come to TCI and this is my greatest fear, the shortage of accommodation”

Turks and Caicos Islanders are well aware of the issue, having complained bitterly for years about the shortage in land and housing and subsequent high costs for rent.

The housing policy of the Turks and Caicos Islands is literally, ‘under construction’ along with the new Crown Land Recommendations which are ready to be written into law. Both emphasize the building of turnkey-ready apartment-like homes in areas identified as suited for building properly outfitted communities.

It has been strongly intimated, accomplishing this, would enable the government to slow down the sale of what little Crown Land remains and modernize the living conditions for the thousands of residents often subjected to sub-par residential living.

Sharing National Security Database

As the Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas deepen their connection, some fear criminals will use the countries as escape routes; hopping from one island to the other perpetrating offences and dodging authorities.  Premier of the Turks and Caicos, Washington Misick, was challenged about the notion and aimed to allay those fears at a diaspora meeting in Grand Bahama on February 18th.

The Premier shared that the Governments had already recognized this as an issue and information sharing would be set up in tangible ways to put a wrench in the current “ease with which people can hide away in the TCI , and people from our country can hideaway in the Bahamas and shield themselves from the law.”

“One thing we have been working on, is to be able to have our shared database and other information with the Turks and Caicos islands, and the Bahamas security and Police Force” he said

He also maintained that the influx of TC Bahamians was not responsible for the increase in crime.

“The last spike that we had here was a TI Bahamian, who was involved in the but it wouldn’t be fair to say that is the reason. We’ve had a number of Turks and Caicos Bahamians who have gotten themselves in trouble, but that is probably no more other people from different countries”

He referenced the case of Brandon Rahming, whom he said, as he understood it, had been wanted in The Bahamas before he entered the Turks and Caicos participating, what Police believed was a gang-fuelled killing spree.

“I know of situations where people have skipped bail and come to The Bahamas as well” he said. The country leader emphasized that collaboration was ongoing, even now, to fix the security gaps between two countries.

#TurksandCaicos, January 23, 2023 – The Turks and Caicos recorded seven new Covid-19 cases in the period from January 8th to 14th pushing the county’s total active infections to 18.  Four of the seven new cases were in Providenciales and three were recorded in the nation’s capital Grand Turk.

There were six recoveries during the period and the current death toll remains at 38.

By Deandrea Hamilton and Dana Malcolm

Editorial Staff

#Dominica, December 7, 2022 – The big story of the night was not that Roosevelt Skerrit and his Dominican Labour Party were able to hold onto electoral power in Dominica, but that independents caused an upset, denying the DLP a sweep of all 21 seats.

The snap election victory proved not to be a snap for Skerrit, who on a social media aired radio show congratulated the two independent candidates now holding seats in parliament.

Skerrit’s DLP was still unable to sway the constituents of Marigot and Salisbury; they continue to prefer other political options and this time, Anthony S. Charles won the Marigot constituency with 491 votes, securing – unofficially – a popular vote of 59.44 per cent.

Jesma Paul won with 617 votes with a voting turnout of 57.13 per cent and Lynsia Frank of DLP lost, receiving 463 votes 42.87 per cent from the Salisbury Constituency.

In a sixth consecutive political victory, the Dominical Labour Party gained one seat over their 2019 finish.  With a notable boundary change, the DLP took Rousea Central which had last time gone to the now, decimated UWP.

Elections are due every five years in Dominica; this election should have technically been held in 2024, however, Skerrit last month called the General Election early.

As prime minister he has the prerogative to call for an election anytime within the constitutionally mandated timeframe.  Still, the early call and boycott of the process by unprepared political parties drew in two election observer teams.

One from CARICOM, the other from the OAS.

Organization of American States dispatches team led by former Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie after concerns were voiced by residents and opposition members on the snap election called by Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to be held on December 6th the country’s leaders invited the Organisation of American States to witness the elections.

The OAS spoke to local media after ballots closed around 5pm explaining that for the most part they had not observed any questionable practices.

Perry Christie, former Bahamian Prime Minister who was part of the 16-person team told reporters

“We are aware of the extent to which there was concern about the electoral process. And or job simply is to make a report and recommendations all with the intention of advancing the democracy of this region— we are generally finding that the facilities are adequate, [though] there are one or two recommendations we will make.”

There were 15 seats up for contention since the ruling Dominica Labour Party was elected unopposed in five seats across the country as the main opposition party the United Workers’ Party boycotted the elections.