News
Turks & Caicos International Film Festival Kicks off November 11th
NOVEMBER 2, 2022: PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS & CAICOS— The highly anticipated Turks & Caicos International Film Festival (TCIFF) is all set for its 4th year of celebrating filmmaking with meaningful impact and purpose in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Since its inception in 2019, TCIFF has grown year over year. Those in the know can now look forward to a packed weekend of screenings, panels, and cocktails featuring celebrities, filmmakers, environmental enthusiasts, and spectators alike.
“We are so excited about this year’s festival. One of the main goals for this year is to shine a spotlight on local talent and make strides toward establishing the Turks and Caicos Islands as a media centre in the Caribbean. Karen Whitt, Chairman of the Festival, said, “The festival has always sought to highlight the Turks and Caicos Islands, particularly from an environmental standpoint. With three years of successful outreach and meaningful connections established in the area of conservation under our belt, we now hope to highlight the beauty of the talented people of these islands”.
TCIFF has invited seasoned Hollywood veterans along with local talent to take part in informative panels and host Q&A sessions to speak about not only their craft, but also how to transition from the starting point of creative enthusiast to a career doing what you love.
“Just one look at our line-up of panels and you’ll see the focus is almost entirely on Turks and Caicos talent.” Whitt said, “The Sharing our Stories puts the spotlight on local filmmakers and writers. Building Our Future gets the government involved in how we can establish ourselves within the film industry. Storytelling by Design showcases our local fashion and costume talent and helps to illustrate the way forward for anyone with similar passions. And our Panel on Progress focuses on the efforts that are being made to preserve the natural beauty of this country. “
This year’s premiere will include the highly anticipated movie ‘The Woman King’, starring Viola Davis; and the American comedy-drama Queen of Glory, written and directed by, and starring, Nana Mensah in her directorial debut.
Other screenings will include Pixar’s Animated Film, Luca, which will play during an outdoor screening at Beaches Resort, and several short films, including those inspired by our own filmmakers, which will debut on Saturday at The Shore Club.
“We encourage people to visit our website to see the schedules and screening times,” Whitt said. “We further encourage everyone to attend our panels. We have a great group of professionals, including celebrities, CEOs, and our very own local experts who will speak on various topics.”
The film festival takes place from November 11–13, 2022 at the award-winning Shore Club Resort, with a unique featured event at the Beaches Resort. Interested patrons looking to purchase tickets for this year’s festivities are encouraged to visit the TCIFF website at www.tciff.org.
Photo caption: L-R Dwyane Krzanowski, Karen Whitt, Vivian Tyson, Todeline Defralien
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.
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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
