News
MRI Replacement Project – Construction works to start
#TurksandCaicos, April 4, 2022 – To stay on the cutting edge of medicine, from April through August 2022, Interhealth Canada Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital will be transforming parts of its Diagnostic Imaging department by replacing the existing CT and MRI scanners with more advanced units. The MRI scanner will be the first to be replaced. The scanners will be replaced sequentially.
The innovative Magnetic Resonance Imagining (MRI) scanner will be installed at the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre on Providenciales. This newest model of MRI has advanced Artificial Intelligence enabled technology and intuitive features and will be the first unit GE has installed with this software in the Caribbean. This is a significant investment in health services with a capital project that replaces the CT and MRI scanner worth almost $2 million dollars.
The GE SIGNA™ 1.5T MRI is designed to have shorter scanning times, increase the number of patients that can be scanned and maximize the image features and promote an enhanced user experience from both the imaging team and the patients.
The first phase of work is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 4th, 2022 and will commence with creating a pathway in the building that will be used to remove the old MRI and install the new MRI.
MRI appointments will still be conducted during this initial phase. The removal of the existing MRI is scheduled to
take place on April 20th, 2022 and the installation and launch of the new MRI takes place in early August if not sooner. After April 20th, 2022, when the MRI service is offline, when clinically indicated, alternative modalities will be used to scan patients. Installing the MRI will mean that construction work will change the patient pathways to our Diagnostic Imaging department and signage will be available to guide patients along with the assistance of our staff. When a patient arrives for their diagnostic imaging or MRI appointment, our patient service associates and front desk staff will provide them with information and direction and help the patient safely navigate in the department.
“The addition of the 1.5T system showcases our commitment to providing advanced imaging services to the community of the Turks and Caicos Islands. We are proud to be one of the first hospitals in the Caribbean to install this new technology and play a part in the development of health care” , C.E.O. InterHealth Canada – TCI. Hospital Dr Denise Braithwaite-Tennant.
“We have a comprehensive imaging program, a strong imaging and project team dedicated to providing the best patient care possible and executing a well-coordinated, safe and successful project. We are not doing it alone but in partnership and input from our key stakeholders in the Board of Directors of InterHealth Canada, Ministry of Health, National Health Insurance Board, Contract Management Team, Service Review Board and Community Advisory Committee. We will take all reasonable steps to minimize disruptions to services and keep you informed each step of the way. I want to thank our patients and families for their patience as we seek to advance innovative and quality care for everyone. ” added Dr Braithwaite-Tennant, C.E.O. TCI Hospital
“There will be a need for some particularinfrastructure works during the MRIreplacement due to the size and weight capacity of the new machine. There are required building works before and after the new MRI is installed. Once the building works have been completed, the construction team will then be able to start the first phase of work to remove the old MRI machine. Once the old MRI machine is removed, we will be required to refurbish the MRIroom, and this involves us removing the internal walls, floors and ceiling to allow room for the arrival and new MRI. I want to thank our patients for their understanding as we move further to provide a service that is unprecedented in the Turks and Caicos Islands and, by extension, the Caribbean” , Martin Dawtry- General Manager, Facilities Management. The TCI Hospital will provide further communications through press releases, social media updates and video blogs throughout the MRI installation project.
Release: InterHealthCanada
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
