News
Crown Land Management recommended NOT to return to Cabinet Minister
By Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
#TurksandCaicos, December 13, 2022 – Crown Land management will likely not be returning to a cabinet ministerial portfolio following the recommendation in the freshly published report, made available by the Office of the Premier on December 8.
On page 120 it is surmised that: “Before the Crown Land Ordinance 2012, the administration of Crown land for residential purposes came under the Ministry of Natural Resources. It was said that the absence of legislative control of Crown land made it “susceptible to ministerial abuse”151 and it became clear that the Minister had indeed become personally involved in directing the relevant public servants to make particular land grants.152 In response, this recommendation was made: “ensure complete independence of the departmental body to be entrusted by the proposed new legislation from ministerial involvement or interference in its individual allocations of Crown Land by way of lease or sale.”
The last decade, the report explains, has severed the tie to cabinet ministers sufficiently enough that risk is at an all-time low. The mitigation of the risk of undue influence has also opened the door to expanding the function of land allocation beyond the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Crown Land Unit. Now, the dispersal of this valuable resource could involve a new Housing Entity.
According to the report, the Housing Entity would be established to support land distribution and while the proposal is for this body of appointees to review only residential lots in a highly choreographed system, the AGs office will continue to work directly with the Crown Land Unit in dishing out larger tracts of land.
This change, if accepted by the masses, may result in expediting residential land purchases or it could prove more cumbersome as it once again relies on the proper staffing of the Housing Entity and equitable management which would employ a points system.
“We propose that in the first stage a civil service caseworker in the Housing Entity should apply the points system to a particular Crown land allocation and come to a provisional decision. In the second stage, the caseworker’s
provisional decision should be sent to a new Housing Points Board which has the task of reviewing and making changes if needed to the caseworker’s provisional decision. The Housing Points Board would be composed of: o the Permanent Secretary for Physical Planning, Infrastructure and Development or their delegate o the Permanent Secretary for Finance or their delegate o the Director of Social Development or their delegate o a member with a professional legal qualification o 6 lay members.”
While the report favours this approach as low risk for corruption; there are expressed misgivings about the powers which would be legally granted to the appointees of the Housing Entity.
“Our view is that if the Housing Entity is going to be involved in large and costly infrastructure projects, and also involved in the oversight of wide-ranging housing issues from rehousing inhabitants of informal settlements to subsidising rents for the poor, enforcing non-payment, and monitoring housing supply, then it needs to be closely integrated within the civil service. Such a broad set of functions will require continual contact with other civil service departments and unimpeded access to civil service resources.”
A determination is the Housing Entity not evolve to a statutory body, for example but be grafted into the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development. The report makes it clear that it is an absolute must for the members of the Housing Entity be completely un-influenced by the elected government.
Housing Points are expected to be the equalizer; giving a final score to determine which applicants are successful for the land in question. It is also recommended that the Governor and Cabinet decide on the transfer of that land through the Crown Lands Unit. The Housing Entity and Housing Points Boards will have no authority to transfer land, says the report.
Recommendation 43, is one of 146 recommendations which have emerged in a report summarizing the results of weeks of interviews, surveys and online engagement in an effort to amend the current Crown Land Ordinance.
The Turks and Caicos Islands and United Kingdom are working on this modernization together. Washington Misick, TCI Premier said “I welcome the joint review final report as it remains my governments vision to seek equitable access for the people of these islands.”
Lord Zac Goldsmith, UK Overseas Territories Minister said “I welcome this joint review and it’s set of practical and well-considered recommendations to improve the utility of crown land in TCI and generate a more efficient and transparent process,” adding that, “The TCI Government has our full support as they move ahead to implementation and delivery of these reforms.”
The 400 page report was completed by R Donhue Gardiner, TCI Attorney with experience in land law and policy development in TCI, and Professor Simon Cooper PhD, an expert in Caribbean land law and registration systems.
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
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