News
Second Squad Welcomed Home, Regiment Members.
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 31, 2022 – Over the sounds of screaming and jubilation at their return there is a quiet but fierce determination about the TCIs latest squad of Sandhurst graduates, the same determination they must have carried with them as they left the Turks and Caicos Islands two months ago with little fanfare to take on a military course in the middle of winter.
“Oh my God I must say it was a challenge, physically and mentally.” 
Officer Cadet Jahiem Glinton told Magnetic Media over the sounds of celebration, speaking for himself and his compatriots Earl Henry and Dixie Smith.
Smith, Glinton and Henry trained alongside officers from Britain and the Maldives in a grueling program that tested them in discipline teamwork, endurance and weapon drills.
“It’s a course designed to stress you, so you really have to keep it all together to make it through the course because that’s what they’re looking for, mental resilience and the ability to operate under pressure.”
All the cadets agreed with that assessment and Henry described the strain on their bodies over the two months.
“It was quite a unique experience…I definitely learned a lot. I definitely pushed my body to a unique limit. I never thought it was possible.”
Through the struggle they found solace in an unexpected comrade.
“I consider the governor a very good friend of mine now.” Glinton said.
“He’s such a good person to talk to, he is very relatable and him having been to Sandhurst before us makes it very relatable for us because there are a lot of people who wouldn’t understand the things that we went through but since he’s already done it-gone through Sandhurst – it’s easy for him to relate to us. It was good to have somebody to relate to about those kinds of things.” Glinton explained.
And true to form the governor showed up to support once again, attending the regiments members graduation on Saturday along with Tracy Knight, TCIs London representative and Lt Colonel Ennis Grant.
Officer cadet Dixie Smith who made her name as the first woman to graduate Sandhurst from the Turks and Caicos and the TCI‘s first female regiment member describes the moment she looked into the crowd and got the shock of a lifetime.
”I was so elated when we looked into the crowd, marching past in a very rigid manner and I noticed the commanding officer of the Turks and Caicos Islands regiment and his Excellency the Governor” she continued, “It was like, we have support. Someone is here for us, we are not alone in this, because it was a loooong eight weeks.” She laughed. 
After receiving their honors the graduates found a way to get their flag in hand for a photo op with the governor.
Their arrival in the TCI was celebrated loud and strong on Sunday in a surprise orchestrated by regiment members, family members and Junkanoo band, We Funk.
The three were shocked by the welcome but very appreciative, letting loose were dancing singing in an explosion of joy.
Henry explained the mood of the three when they stepped off of the airplane into the excitement.
“This is definitely a huge surprise. We were not expecting this coming off of eight hours over the Atlantic, we can see that the Turks and Caicos Islands are behind us and we are very excited for the future of the regiment.”
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
