News
TOURISM growth REVERSED for TCI; CRIME and COVID VACCINE may be to blame
Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm
Editorial Staff
It was not a chart-topping Thanksgiving for the Turks and Caicos Islands as long-stay visitor arrivals and commercial airlines were down during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and the protracted vaccine mandate carries some of the blame.
Air arrivals for American Thanksgiving weekend 2022 in the Turks and Caicos fell below 2019 and 2021 levels according to figures obtained by Magnetic Media from the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA).
Though a slight dip, the lower passenger count broke the trend of increasingly better numbers in terms of long stay tourists vacationing in the islands.
Nikeva Ariza, Manager of Corporate Affairs, Communication and Community Engagement explained that between November 20-27 a total of 13,310 passengers came into the islands and there were 14,494 outbound passengers during the period which included American Thanksgiving on November 24th. Back in 2021 there were 14,714 inbound and 14,037 outbound passengers for the same period in 2019 there were 13,804 inbound and 13,984 outbound.
The figure reflects a 9.5 per cent drop when all indicators and expectations had been pointing to outperformance of
2021. The decrease also comes as the Turks and Caicos’ safety reputation was scorched by blazing international headlines about a gang-fuelled killing spree, which led to innocents, including a prominent Virginian realtor and NAACP leader, being shot in the crossfire.
Kent Carter, a tourist, was killed in a hail of bullets on October 2, following a jet ski excursion.
There was a 25 per cent decrease in airlines at the Providenciales International Airport, PLS November 20-27 (2022). Some 140 aircraft landed during the holiday week but that was well below last year’s record setting number, which TCIAA data informed was 186.
As for what Christmas may bring Stacy Cox, CEO of The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) said the vaccine mandate has made projecting less predictable.
“Although the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday the numbers are strong, it’s hard to predict what the latter months will be due to us being one of the only islands in the Caribbean that still has a vaccinated guest only policy for entry while our competitors have dropped all requirements, advertising aggressively and are fully open for business.” she said
The September listing from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association revealed the TCI was one of only two countries clinging to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The other in the September list of 31 Caribbean countries was Guyana, however, that changed on October 7th; Guyana dropped the travel entry requirement soon after the list was published.
More positively, Cox explained that Turks and Caicos resorts were also seeing many last minute bookings which made it even tougher to predict future occupancy.
Regardless, the outstanding performance in the first six months of 2022 have set the Turks and Caicos up for a record breaking year, when viewed overall.
In the first six months of 2022 alone there was a 183 per cent increase in arrivals. There were 180,597 air passenger arrivals in January to June 2021 versus a massive 331,824 in the same period in 2022, an increase of 151,227 arrivals.
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
