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PDM Deputy Leader: No to VAT, Silence on Crime, Where’s the Water and call for Financial relief

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#TurksandCaicos, April 22, 2022 – I am very disappointed to see the lack of representation for Five Cays, following the shocking crime wave of last week. Many of you may know, I consider Five Cays home because that is the community I grew up in, so the disregard for the situation is just fully unacceptable.

Earlier this year I expressed deep concern for the way life was deteriorating in so many of the communities of the Turks and Caicos, and that crime was escalating. It is a trend that has sadly not stopped, it is getting worse. In my regular visits to areas like Five Cays, I am learning that people continue to feel deserted, and this latest shooting spree with no one from the government coming out to offer a word of comfort or hope, demonstrates that the representative elected for the work is so preoccupied with her Cabinet seat, that she seems to have forgotten about her Constituency seat.

I hear nothing being said about National Security – sad to say – the Five Cays constituency has the most crime happening in the country. It is on her watch that nothing is being said and it seems nothing is being done when young people are committing serious crime and people are dying or being seriously injured as a result of violence.

We all know that if the PDM were the government, when this crime spike broke loose, the current MP would have been all over it. Now that she has the power she asked for, we get silence. It’s a total no show on her job of taking care of Five Cays and Chalk Sound.

Chalk Sound is also an area I grew up in, and so to see, that these areas are being neglected is hurtful. While this government continues to promote their “Best life’ slogan around like all is well with the world, the people in this country are struggling under the weight of global inflation, run down infrastructure, slow government services, low or unchanged salaries and the fear of being the next victim of deadly crime.

On another note, Economists, Accountants, the Business Community and the Media have all reported that the reduction in CPF and government fuel tax will not change the costs to consumers, but the Government, who is aware of these reports, is silent on this issue. Not one word from the elected government in a month. This is disrespectful to our professional community.

A decision was made without proper and thorough consultation, so the taxes announced last month have so far been a waste of time and added paperwork which offers no real money savings that residents can feel. We know that you the people of this country are frustrated. You voted in people who said they would work, but the work must improve.

But, do not despair, the PDM will continue to speak out and agitate on your behalf. I will continue to keep this government aware of what you need or what you say, and how many of their policies are failing you.

I saw the Minister of Finance in one of his many boasts, highlighting what was not even a handful of businesspeople receiving grants through the MSME of Invest Turks and Caicos Agency. To me, to show off for two people receiving government funding proves the goals for this PNP Administration are far too conservative. We are an enterprising people; ready to build our own businesses and succeed. We need a government with big goals and big heart who are ready to equip us and help us achieve our goals. If we are going to be serious about changing the lives of people, and empowering people economically, then we need to be attracting crowds. The kinds of crowds which were attracted when you were giving out the stimulus.

Thousands came when you gave $1,000 and $500; so ask yourself, why then are they not coming when you are offering $10,000 or more in program benefits?

Let’s discuss Grand Turk for a moment. What credentials do the people of Grand Turk need in order for you to get them a reliable water supply? Year after year, we hear of issues about the water for Grand Turk including broken equipment and lack of security to protect it. What is it going to take for the Government to just give this matter the dedicated attention it deserves? Your priority list needs shuffling PNP. You’re thinking about vendors’ markets and how to accommodate more cruise passengers when Grand Turk can’t even supply water to a few thousand people.

Water is a fundamental, essential part of life and living, and doing business and providing health care. How do these officials rest at night knowing, thousands of people in Grand Turk are denied basic water? Once and for all, fix the water problem in our nation’s capital.

We are still in a pandemic which demands higher levels of good hygiene which means they need reliable water services. It is where the majority of tourists come in due to the cruise ships, the water cannot keep running out.

Back to finance. Mr. Finance Minister, the IMF is coming in here, looking for ways to make more money on the backs of the smallest earners, and government services are struggling to keep pace with the growing population demands. As for E Government – can we have a progress report on that? Yes, we can apply for a police record online, but it’s taking three months to get one in hand. Adding to these issues, you want to introduce a new tax, maybe a VAT tax.

The PDM is not in support of VAT.

Our people cannot handle a bigger tax burden. From where I stand, you are not getting the work done as much as our people need, and in the meaningful ways we need it. Your show and tell time is up, you cannot get tired now. Work

Crime

Former Police Officer Opens up to Eagle Legal about Frightening Kidnapping and Robbery at Gunpoint; alarmed at TCI Police silence

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Wilkie Arthur

Eagle Legal News

 

Tuesday, April 15, 2025 – Turks and Caicos Islands – In the early hours of Wednesday, April 9, 2025, a former police officer in the Turks and Caicos Islands was the victim of a terrifying robbery and kidnapping in the Dock Yard area, Eagle Legal News Media has learned.

Shortly after 3:00 a.m., the victim had just dropped off his girlfriend near Bible Street (Behind Mara) and returned to his vehicle when he was confronted by a lone, masked man armed with a firearm. The attacker, described as aggressive and agitated, demanded the victim’s wallet, phone, and other valuables. The victim, trying to remain calm, complied. His wallet reportedly contained over $1,000 in cash.

Despite giving up his belongings, the gunman continued to threaten him, demanding more money and pressing the firearm to the victim’s head and body. The victim described the ordeal as intense, saying he felt as if the bullets were already tearing through him due to the attacker’s inexplicable rage.

Although he considered using his police training to subdue the attacker, the victim noticed other men nearby observing the situation without intervening. Concerned for his life, he instead came up with a plan: he told the robber he could take him to an ATM to withdraw more cash.

“I felt like he was going to kill me for more money,” the victim said. “So I told him we could go to the ATM, even though I knew it was closed, just to get out of Dock Yard and buy myself a chance to survive.”

The assailant agreed, and the two drove to a nearby ATM, with the victim behind the wheel and the gunman keeping the firearm aimed at him the entire time, threatening him with violent language. When they arrived and found the ATM closed, the victim seized his moment.

“As soon as I stepped out of the car, I ran like Usain Bolt,” he recounted, “I tore through the bushes straight to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre.”

There, he hid in the brush for a time before emerging to seek help. He contacted authorities from the hospital, where he was treated for minor cuts and bruises sustained during his escape.

Thankfully, he was not shot.

The former officer described his assailant as a male with a mixed Jamaican-Haitian accent who spoke fluent English. The man reportedly told him he was hungry and desperate for money.

He recalled the gunman saying, “If you don’t get me more money, I’ll kill you.”

The assailant fled the scene in the victim’s car, which was later recovered by police in Dock Yard. As of this report, no arrests have been made.

The victim contacted Eagle Legal News after seeing no official police report released about the incident.

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Bahamas News

CARIFTA Games 2025 – Trinidad & Tobago 

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S C H E D U L E    O F    E V E N T S

 

The 2025 CARIFTA Athletics Games will be held at Hasely Crawford Stadium from April 19–21, while the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships take place at the National Aquatic Centre from April 19–22, with Open Water events on April 23 at Five Islands Beach.

Friday April 18, 2025

52nd CARIFTA Athletics Games and the XXXVIII CARIFTA Aquatics Championships Opening Ceremony

  • Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad
  • Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
  • Admission Free

Saturday April 19, 2025

Athletics – Hasely Crawford Stadium: Port of Spain, Trinidad

Morning Session – Starts 9:00 AM

  • Boy’s U20 Decathlon 100m Heats
  • Girl’s U17 High Jump Final
  • Girl’s U17 Javelin Throw Final
  • Girl’s U20 Shot Put Final
  • U17 & U20 100m and 400m Semi-Finals
  • Boy’s U17 Octathlon 100m Heats
  • Boy’s U20 Decathlon Long Jump & Shot Put

Afternoon Session – Starts 4:00 PM

  • Medal Ceremonies
  • U17 & U20 Finals: 100m, 400m, 1500m
  • Girl’s U20 Triple Jump Final
  • Girl’s U17 Discus Final
  • Boy’s U20 Discus & High Jump
  • Boy’s U17 Triple Jump & Shot Put
  • Special Olympics 100m (Girls & Boys)
  • Mixed Open 4x400m Relay Final
  • Pole Vault & Octathlon/Decathlon 400m Heats

Aquatics – National Aquatic Centre: Couva, Trinidad

Morning Session – Starts 9:00 AM

  • Girl’s 800m Freestyle (slowest heats)
  • Boy’s 1500m Freestyle (slowest heats)
  • Prelims:
    • 200m Breaststroke (11-12, 13-14, 15-17)
    • 50m Backstroke (11-12, 13-14, 15-17)
    • 100m Butterfly (11-12, 13-14, 15-17)
    • 4x100m Freestyle Relay (all age groups)

Evening Session – Starts 6:00 PM

  • Girl’s 800m & Boy’s 1500m Freestyle (fastest heats)
  • Finals:
    • 200m Breaststroke
    • 50m Backstroke
    • 100m Butterfly
    • 4x100m Freestyle Relay (all age groups)

Sunday April 20, 2025

Athletics – Hasely Crawford Stadium: Port of Spain, Trinidad

Morning Session – Starts 9:00 AM

  • Boy’s U20 Decathlon 110m Hurdles, Discus, Pole Vault
  • Girl’s U20 Shot Put Final
  • Boy’s U20 Long Jump Final
  • Boy’s U17 Octathlon 110m Hurdles, High Jump
  • Girl’s Open Heptathlon: 100m Hurdles, High Jump
  • U17 & U20 400m Hurdles & 200m Semi-Finals
  • Girl’s U17 Discus Final

Afternoon Session – Starts 4:00 PM

  • Medal Ceremonies
  • U17 & U20 4x100m Relay Semi-Finals
  • Girl’s Open Heptathlon: Shot Put, 200m
  • Boy’s U17 Octathlon: Javelin, 1500m
  • U17 & U20 800m Semi-Finals
  • U17 3000m, U20 3000m, Shot Put, Long Jump, High Jump, Javelin
  • Finals: 400m Hurdles, 4x100m Relays, Mixed 4x400m
  • More Medal Ceremonies

Aquatics – National Aquatic Centre: Couva, Trinidad

Morning Session – Starts 9:00 AM

  • Prelims:
    • 200m Freestyle (11-12, 13-14, 15-17)
    • 50m Butterfly (11-12, 13-14, 15-17)
    • 100m Backstroke (11-12, 13-14, 15-17)
    • 4x100m Medley Relay (all age groups)
  • Slower heats: 400m Individual Medley

Evening Session – Starts 6:00 PM

  • Finals:
    • 200m Freestyle
    • 50m Butterfly
    • 100m Backstroke
    • 4x100m Medley Relay
  • Fastest heats: 400m Individual Medley

Monday April 21, 2025

Athletics – Hasely Crawford Stadium: Port of Spain, Trinidad

Morning Session – Starts 9:00 AM

Morning Session – Starts 9:00 AM

  • Girl’s U17 & U20 100m Hurdles – Semi-Finals
  • Boy’s U17 & U20 110m Hurdles – Semi-Finals
  • Girl’s Open Heptathlon: Long Jump
  • Girl’s U20 High Jump Final
  • Boy’s U17 Long Jump & Discus Final
  • 4x400m Relay Semi-Finals (U17 & U20 – Girls and Boys)

Afternoon Session – Starts 3:00 PM

  • Medal Ceremonies
  • Finals:
    • All Hurdle Events (U17 & U20)
    • Girl’s U20 Discus Throw
    • Girl’s U17 Triple Jump
    • Boy’s U20 Shot Put
    • Girl’s U17 & Boy’s U20 800m
    • Girl’s & Boy’s U17 and U20 200m
    • Boy’s U20 Triple Jump
    • Girl’s U17 Javelin Final
    • Boy’s U20 5000m
    • Special Olympics 200m (Girls & Boys)
  • Girl’s Open Heptathlon: Javelin & 800m
  • 4x400m Relay Finals (U17 & U20 – Girls and Boys)
  • Closing Ceremony

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Bahamas News

Minister Moxey congratulates Team Bahamas 2025 CARIFTA Grand Bahama contingent

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By LEDEDRA MARCHE
Bahamas Information Services



GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas – Confident that Team Bahamas will once again do the country proud at the CARIFTA Games, Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey told the Grand Bahama contingent worshipping at New Destiny Kingdom Center on Sunday, April 13, 2025 that they were already stars.

The 2025 CARIFTA  Aquatics and Athletics Championships are being held in Trinidad and Tobago from April 19-22.

Minister Moxey reminded the outstanding athletes that it is because of their dedication, discipline and determination they have been chosen and that they symbolize the hope, strength and resilience that the residents of Grand Bahama are known for.

“You athletes are about to represent our beautiful island and proudly carry The Bahamas’ banner with pride at the CARIFTA Games in Trinidad. Today we unite to celebrate this achievement and we want you to know that you are already champions in our eyes,” she said.

Cognizant that their journey has not been easy, Minister Moxey said they stayed the course — rising early, training hard and making sacrifices.

She pointed out that the athletes are now standing on the edge of greatness; carrying their dreams, hopes and pride in Grand Bahama Island with them.

Minister Moxey encouraged the athletes, as they step on to the track, field or into the pool, to represent The Bahamas with excellence.

“Compete with heart and remember that your island and your nation are cheering you on every step of the way. Go forward knowing that you and your coaches are covered in prayer; surrounded by love and supported by a proud Grand Bahama family,” she said.

“May God’s favour go before you, may he protect each of you on this journey and may His Grace carry you to victory.”

Representatives from the City of Freeport Council were also in attendance, and Chief Councillor Kendal Culmer also brought remarks.

PHOTO CAPTION – Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey encouraged the Grand Bahama contingent of Team Bahamas worshipping at New Destiny Kingdom Center on Sunday, April 13, 2025 before they left to compete in the 2025 CARIFTA Aquatics and Athletics Championships in Trinidad and Tobago set for April 19-22.

(BIS Photos/Andrew Miller)

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