Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – Hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults worldwide, and if countries do not scale up coverage tens of millions of people will die.  That’s according to a first-of-its-kind report on the global effects of hypertension from the World Health Organization.

The September 19th report indicated that the number of people living with hypertension has doubled in less than 30 years, between 1990 and 2019, from 650 million to 1.3 billion and nearly half of the affected are unaware.

The WHO is now calling on all countries including the Turks and Caicos to invest in the prevention, detection and management of hypertension as a matter of urgency.

The organization crunched the numbers to show countries what more focused programs could do.

“An increase in the number of patients effectively treated for hypertension to levels observed in high-performing countries could prevent 76 million deaths, 120 million strokes, 79 million heart attacks, and 17 million cases of heart failure between now and 2050,” it said.

Along with saving lives, the WHO says it can also decrease spending on health.  Health is usually the largest portion of the TCI budget.  The cost of preventing and managing the disease versus treating its effects is massive.

“The prevention, early detection and effective management of hypertension are among the most cost-effective interventions in health care and should be prioritized by countries as part of their national health benefit package offered at a primary care level.  The economic benefits of improved hypertension treatment programs outweigh the costs by about 18 to 1.”

#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – Several Dominican fishermen were caught in the midst of poaching from the Turks and Caicos waters last week.

A report from the Fisheries and Maritime Department and Marine Police, indicated the illegal fishermen were spotted in the vicinity of Bush Cay on September 18th.  The men were arrested and around six bags of fish recovered.

“We will not tolerate illegal fishing activities that threaten the delicate balance of our marine environment and the livelihoods of our people,” says Josephine Connolly, Minister with responsibility for Fisheries and Resources.

Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Reporter

#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – A 31-year-old Providenciales man is accused of sexual abuse of his own daughter during the pandemic lockdown of 2020; the complainant is his own child.

We will give only the initials of that man, DF, in an effort to protect the young accuser.  DF is also facing two counts of sexual assault; one count of indecent assault and he has to answer to one count of sexual activity with a child family member.

DF, who appeared in the Supreme Court on Monday and Tuesday (September 25th & September 26th) to be tried, had his case stalled due to insufficient jury attendance on both days.

The mother came in support of her daughter on both days; the daughter is ready to testify against her father for what she is alleging happened to her between the June 1 and August 31 in 2020; a period of three months during the COVID lock down.

The case was adjourned to November 6, 2023 by The Hon. Lady Justice Ms. Tanya Lobban Jackson with thanks and apology to all 14/15 jurors who came and had to wait hours on both days and to all other parties involved in the matter that did not proceed.

The defendant, who is on bail in this matter, bail was extended to the new trial date.