News
No End in Sight for Conflict in Ukraine; TCI Gov’t Rolls Out $15 Million Tax Break to ‘Hold Down’ Costs
By Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
#TurksandCaicos, March 16, 2022 – Tax cuts worth $15 million were announced by Washington Misick, Turks and Caicos Islands Premier as a first step toward helping to “hold down” the escalating cost of goods in the marketplace; he addressed the nation on Tuesday March 15 in a press conference carried live.
Premier Misick said the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has exacerbated an already record-setting inflationary period as the world trudges out of the Coronavirus pandemic. 
“Even before the crisis started, or the conflict started between Russia and Ukraine we were already experiencing high rates of inflation and we spoke to you and told you that we would be dealing with it and dealing with it by the appointment of a commission to look at minimum wage and some other issues. That Commission has been appointed and the work is now beginning on that front,” he said on Tuesday evening.
While his government is prepared to swallow a budgetary loss of $15 million dollars, at this time, it could be that more action is needed as the country’s leader expressed uncertainty about an end to the conflict which has already claimed 691 lives and has forced three million people to flee the country.
“The conflict is not over, it is far from over and we cannot at this stage, predict with any degree of certainty what will happen as we move forward but the Turks and Caicos Government has taken into consideration the fact that the cost of the conflict will further impact the cost of living and the quality of life as a result of that. So we come today to speak to you about the initial package of relief that we will provide to try to mitigate the serious impact on the consumers of the Turks and Caicos Islands and they focus on food and fuel.”
Recognizing that the two eastern European countries together are super powers in oil and wheat production, the Premier somberly shared what intervention was approved at Cabinet, for now.
“There is a tax, which is an 85 cent levy per gallon on fuel; it is actually sometimes referred to as the additional duty on fuel and then there’s also the CPF.”
The Customs Processing Fee is a 7.5 per cent tax on the purchase value of the goods.
Government has decided to trim both.
“The Government has agreed, in Cabinet to provide a $15 Million package; a relief worth $15 Million for the time being,” said Hon Misick, “over the next 12 months and depending on how the situation unfolds, we will then be revisiting the concessions we are providing.”
The fuel sold at the pumps is taxed; the TCI Government takes from each gallon sold, 85 cents. That fuel tax will be reduced by 25%, said the Premier, which translates to the consumer saving 21 cents per gallon.
Government is forgoing collection of $2.7 million dollars due to this concession which takes effect from April 1.
“In addition to the fuel, there’s also proposed a CPF which now stands at 7.5 per cent, that will now be reduced to 5 per cent.”
Right now, prices at the pumps in the Turks and Caicos Islands resident for regular fuel is almost unbearable. One fuel station is already past $7 per gallon for regular gasoline.
Nearly 100 per cent of what people in the Turks and Caicos consume is imported, more than 85 per cent of the imports are from the United States and around 14 per cent is from the region, according to 2019 statistics.
“Things have gotten significantly worse as a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine. A little known fact until very recently, between Russia and Ukraine – they actually together produce 50 per cent of the world’s wheat and they are of course super producers of gas and oil; so today what we have already noticed is that the price has gone up significantly at the pump; supply lines and supply chains have started to tighten already.”
Now that the announcement is made outlining what Cabinet has decided in order to soften the blow on local prices due to the global inflation, E. Jay Saunders, the Minister of Finance and his Consumer & Trade Department must meet with local fuel suppliers, utility companies, grocers and other retailers to communicate the changes and expectations.
The hope is the Commercial sector, which has never before experienced any policing of its pricing, will need very little in terms of spot checks.
Government is optimistic these entities will do the right thing by passing on the full savings to consumers in support of their relief package for residents of the Turks and Caicos.
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
