News
Government watching, Tax Breaks & Concessions could be extended, says Premier
By Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
#TurksandCaicos, November 23, 2022 – The government is watching consumer pricing in Turks and Caicos supplier markets and according to Washington Misick, TCI Premier the move to cut taxes on imports and cap costs on fuel surcharges is a measure poised to be extended.
“I don’t want to pre-empt the decision by Cabinet, but I believe it is fair to accept that to the extent that that prices continue to rise and to the extent that, until we are able to do something with the living wage, we will be making every effort to assist consumers by holding down the prices.”
The matter of the dreadfully high cost of living arose as among the first concerns of residents who turned up at the Gus Lightbourne Gym for the government hosted public meeting on Monday night.
“We don’t actually have a price control law in place. What we prefer to do is to provide that support to consumers by way of subsidizing critical imports however there are many ways that the issue of cost of living is being addressed by the government.”
Turning to his Border Services minister, Arlington Musgrove, the premier announced there is a planned extension to
the Food & Fuel Tax Break, which sliced 2.5 per cent of the Customs Processing Fee (CPF) and reduced government fuel tax by 25 per cent; a $15 million cost absorption by TCIG which was laid out in March 2022.
The concession took effect on April 1 for a period of 12 months.
“Only today, we agreed to extend – a policy decision made six months ago, to remove the duties including taking off the CPF a whole basket of goods, that is being extended for a further six months, if I am not mistaken,” he said on Monday in the second of a series of roving public meetings.
Residents want more however, fearing that the duty free concessions which were added to the Food & Fuel Tax break are not being passed down by retailers. The premier admitted to similar concerns and agreed that government must find a way to track how the concessions meant for consumers are actually experienced by them. Until then, the government is having to get creative so that the consumers feel the savings and assistance.
“What has happened is that the government realised that we can’t control the transfer of savings through customs duties that we might have given to the merchant. Because of the absence of the ability (because of our tax structure) to literally examine people’s books and see what is going on, we can’t control whether they are passing those savings on.”
The PNP Administration, this summer announced a second plan to buffer the hard-hitting costs of consumables. A $16 Million concession was rolled out and included duty exemption to all residents bringing goods in for their households and a duty free list of food items which resulted in savings at local grocers. Residents also received a $1,000 cash stimulus and eventually benefitted from a $2.5 million Fuel Factor Stabilization Credit which resulted in a dramatic drop in energy bills.
The Government agreed to cap the fuel factor rate, which is being driven by high oil prices, paying the excess and saving FortisTCI customers hundreds of dollars at a time.
“Electricity now on your bill, you would notice, the fuel factor is something like about 30 cents or more, I’m not quite sure but we have capped to a maximum of 20 cents and that goes until the end of December, and the government has subsidised that directly to the consumer to the tune of $2.5M at least.”
The pace of this historic inflationary season is also challenging for governments; Turks and Caicos, like others is experiencing around an 11 per cent inflation rate, while salaries remain stagnant and as living costs, food and other commodities including fuel have surged to record-setting levels.
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
