News
PDM Opposition Leader calls for no fear in the stride for Self Determination on JAGS Day
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, June 6, 2022 – “We should not be afraid of self-determination” was the message from the nephew of J.A.G.S McCartney, Edwin Astwood, leader of the People’s Democratic Movement as he spoke at the wreath laying ceremony in honour of the national hero held Monday May 31.
The Opposition Leader did not mince words as he called for a reassessment of the TCIs Governance structure.
“England is our mother country but the Turks and Caicos Islands have grown up, you may not believe it but it is about time for us to prepare to branch out on our own.”
Astwood argued that there were models in the Caribbean region from other countries that showed the wrong and right way to go about independence and could be applied to the tci setting.
Astwood went ahead and outlined a plan to get the islands ready for independence. This plan included strengthening the institution for good governance, creating systems to assure peaceful transfers of power after general elections and committing to enhancing food security, national security and safety. After this, Astwood said, then a referendum could be put to the people to have them decide if they should stay with the monarchy or not.
“I am hereby proposing that we develop those milestones and then seek permission for a referendum,” he said. Astwood then criticised the current system of government in which the UK could deny the islands a referendum as well as ‘loyalists’ who he said did not believe that the Turks and Caicos could stand on their own saying that the islands could not use the excuse that they were ‘not ready’ forever. He argued that not only should membership in the United Kingdom be voluntary but the Turks and Caicos should be partners rather than ‘loyal subjects’.
“I wholeheartedly believe that the United Kingdom should be a voluntary association of nations on the basis of mutual cooperation and respect. The Turks and Caicos’s future is a matter for the people of the TCI and it would be fundamentally wrong to deny us the right to a referendum.” He said, “Over the years we have built a multi-cultural society.”
He addressed the Governor and Queen’s representative in the Turks and Caicos directly urging Nigel Dakin to use the time he had left with the TCI, to advance meaningful discussions between countries while protecting both the UK and TCI interests.
A united country is what Astwood asked for as he addressed the sitting premier, Washington Misick, directly, “Yes we are on different parties but we’re on one team and that team is team TCI.”
Astwood urged islanders and the government to assess the areas in which the country had progressed and regressed in the last 42 years since J.A.G.S. McCartney’s death and maintained that the islands must ‘look ahead’ to important issues of the future including citizenship, land, home and business ownership, diversity of educational opportunities, natural security and the preservation of the environment.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 27, 2023 – Following the announcement that several women had been robbed and assaulted in Blue Hills in the past weeks, Magnetic Media queried why the Police would wait until they had a man in custody to release an alert.
TCI’s newest addition to the top brass Detective Superintendent Dean Holden, Head of Crime, Safeguarding and Public Protection, told us that it initially appeared to be an isolated offence and not part of a series of incidents.
“The full circumstances needed to be investigated to ascertain the facts before a public alert could be considered. 
Misinformation in such a case would only cause unnecessary public concern and confusion and could adversely impact the investigation and the safeguarding of persons involved—” he said. “Even now there is no definitive information that these offences are linked, and investigators remain open-minded.”
Holden claimed an early alert with limited information could have hindered the investigation and they were trying to protect the women who may not have wanted to be identified based on where they lived.
As it turns out, the public concern was very much warranted, because there have been more violent sexual attacks, and more victims got hurt, forcing their hands.
“When further similar offences were committed, the overriding principle of sustained public protection was considered, hence the alert/release issued,” he said.
That alert was coupled with the news that a man had been arrested. Whether those further similar incidents could have been prevented if the public was informed earlier and taken extra precautions, is the underlying question. To date, we don’t know how many victims there are.
Police have increased patrols in the Blue Hills area and condemned the crimes as unacceptable. They have not indicated if anyone was charged for the offences yet.
#TurksandCaicos, March 27, 2023 – After a festive three days of competition, the TCISS Inter-High Track & Field Championships 2023 have concluded with the A. Louise Garland Thomas High School reigning as Champions. Featuring a great turnout, eleven schools from across the Turks and Caicos Islands met to compete at the National Stadium March 9-11, 2023.
The competition was stiff among athletes, who were all competing for top spots and by extension a spot-on Team TCI’s CARIFTA 2023 team. From high-spirited invitationals to entertainment by DJ Shakes, spectators enjoyed the best Nationals competition yet.
Overall results:
- 1st Place: A. Louise Garland Thomas High School
- 2nd Place: Clement Howell High School
- 3rd Place: Marjorie Basden High School
Twenty athletes have been selected for Turks and Caicos Islands National CARIFTA Team, some who would have competed in the TCISS Inter-High Track & Field Championships 2023 and some living abroad.
Here are the athletes:
- Roniesha Johnson U-17 Girls CHHS
- Branary Delancy U-17 Girls LGTHS
- Krysann Williams U-20 Girls LGTHS
- Anesha Varus U-20 Girls CHHS
- Lynn Antoine U-20 Girls Unattached
- Chyna Simmons U-20 Girls BWIC
- Rayvon Black U-17 Boys Denbigh/Jam
- Renaldo Registre U-17 Boys RGHS
- Jarmal Missick U-17 Boys HJRHS
- Melique Evans U-17 Boys CHHS
- Love Joseph U-17 Boys LGTHS
- Kaeson Garland U-17 Boys MBHS
- Shamar Garland U-17 Boys HJRHS
- Alieandio Durham U-20 Boys CHHS
- Bernard Hyde U-20 Boys CHHS
- Markey Zepherin U-20 Boys CHHS
- Rayvon Walkin U-20 Boys KC/Jam
- Anthon Walkin U-20 Boys KC/Jam
- Alidavidson Higgs U-20 Boys JC/Jam
- Darvioun Rigby U-20 Boys Keiser/USA
By Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TheBahamas, March 27, 2023 – Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors dominated the Bahamas at home, at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, for the 2022/2023 Concacaf Nations League on Friday, with a 3-0 victory.
The Soca Warriors struck their first blow within the first 5 minutes of the game, with Kareem Moses making the first shot in the top left corner of the net giving T&T one to the Bahamas’ zero (1-0).
Soon after, in about 26 minutes, they made another shot giving them 2-0 away from home; the scorer Joevin Jones. By the 34th minute mark, the winning goal was made by Ryan Telfer, T&T now at three.
Neither team scored any additional goals as the match progressed despite attempts made by various players.
Trinidad’s win gives them 12 points through five matches. Next match for the Soca Warriors is against Nicaragua; that clash is set for Monday March 27 (at home in Tobago at the Dwight Yorke Stadium), in a tussle of winner-take-all on the final match day. The victor takes home a promotion to League A and a spot in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.
Angus Eve, T&T’s head coach expressed that the job is only half done, keeping aware that more challenges are coming their way, one of which is the nearing match against Nicaragua who is one point ahead of the Warriors.
Meanwhile, The Bahamas will journey to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with hopes of emerging victorious there.
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