Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

Over a year after opening its doors for candidate applications, the People’s Democratic Movement is ready to reveal the 10 individuals who will contest the electoral districts in the 2025 general elections.

Ezra Taylor communicated with the media on April 30th following reports that several candidates had received confirmation letters in the weeks prior.

“After an extensive exercise conducted by the People’s Democratic Movement, we are pleased to announce to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands that an official launch of our ten district candidates will take place on May 6, 2024, at 11:00 am,” Taylor indicated.

The team is being kept under wraps until the reveal date but at least one candidate is certain as the team will be: “Under the strong, caring, and trusted leadership of the Hon. Edwin Astwood assisted by a dynamic group of candidates, who together, will forge a future where Turks and Caicos Islanders will feel safe, prosper and fulfill their potential,” Taylor said, indicating that Astwood would reprise his role as Opposition Leader, and likely as candidate for Grand Turk South and Salt Cay based on his own comments.

Astwood was the only PDM candidate to hold onto a seat in the last election, an overwhelmingly yellow victory for the PNP.

In the selection of their five all island candidates which have already been revealed, the PDM placed trust in quite a few of the candidates from that failed election bid, including Karen Malcolm, Robert Been, Ralph Higgs, and Sean Astwood. It remains to be seen whether voters are ready to embrace again, the PDM as the government of the islands.

Edwin Astwood has however stressed that it was the vote of the people that decided who got a spot in the all-island lineup. The opposition leader indicated that surveys had been carried out with over 1,000 respondents indicating who they wanted to run.

“We don’t know how things happened in the past with other parties but we wanted you the people to make the decision and whatever decision you made we were going to live with it. You made this decision for me and I thank you,” he had said to the public.

The PDM has not confirmed whether that was the deciding factor in the second round of candidates as well.

However National Chairman Taylor is confident in their selections maintaining that:

“During this crucial time in our country, Turks and Caicos Islanders need a people-centered government that will address the needs of our country, and lead our country with a sense of purpose. The People’s Democratic Movement is ready, willing and able.”

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

A warm welcome laced with cautious hope from residents is what greeted Edvin Martin, Commissioner of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF), when he was sworn into office on April 22, 2024. 

Washington Misick, TCI Premier and Co-chair of the National Security Council,  spoke on behalf of residents during the ceremony, held in Providenciales.

“We have been looking forward to your arrival and for everything that we know about you we are expecting great things,” Misick said, indicating the country was anxious for a return to more peaceful days.

Acknowledging that policing is not the job of a single person, Misick also vowed his support.

The residents who tuned into the live event shared similar sentiments, many welcoming Martin, others, hopeful that his confident words would come to fruition.

Dozens of congratulatory comments were shared by users to Martin, and obviously appraised of his record as former police chief of the Royal Grenada Defense Force commenters expressed satisfaction at his hiring. 

“One country’s loss is the next one’s gain….all the best sir,” said one user.

Others were pleased with his introductory remarks.

“He speaks with great confidence, professionalism, and surety, I have faith that he and the entire RTCIPF will do well, God Bless and protect you all,” one resident said. 

Another followed it up with  “He speaks with great authority! We are looking forward to great work from you and the RTCIPF team at large.”

Others were interested and hopeful, but still cautious, comments included:

“We Shall see what will be what.” 

“Hopefully we see more than just ‘Round-about Policing’ and Ticketing. We want guns off the street. Justice and Peace. All the best.”

Also in the comments? Residents seemingly from Martin’s home country of Grenada

 “Proud of you Mr. Martin and I am confident that you will do an excellent job. God is with you and we love and respect you,” said one such individual. 

Other residents were flat-out angry and called for boycotts of the ceremony. 

Rodney Adams, Deputy Commissioner of Police, advised Martin to take stock of and put to use his entire team rather than engaging with a select few.

“I firmly believe that a house divided against itself cannot stand. We, your executive team, are here willing and able to work with you as our team leader to get the job done.”

For his part, Martin made several promises to the people of the TCI, for whom he is now responsible.

“As your Commissioner of Police, I assure you of my unwavering commitment to serve this nation with pride and integrity. I commit to being a Commissioner for the people and doing everything within my power to safeguard our communities.” 

Martin began his tenure on April 22.

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

With an allocation of $14,918,892, to be spent during fiscal year 2024, 2025, the Ministry of Public Safety and Utilities will seek to consistently excel in service delivery and produce high quality products.

Delivering a Ministerial Statement to the National House of Assembly, recently, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Kyle R. Knowles says part of this year’s mission is to enhance customer service experiences and uphold the ‘highest standards of excellence and accountability” for the citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“It is on this basis that the Ministry’s focus will be on ‘Forging Ahead: Building A Stronger, More Sustainable Ministry,’” as it aims to deliver on key programme strategies achieving “our key strategic priorities and initiatives,” he said.

Adding that the work of the Ministry is “closely linked” to the Government’s mandate in delivering for the people, he said collectively, its work to achieve “these very ambitious goals” for the benefits of citizens. 

Immediate priority is being placed on the Energy and Utilities Department, which is “heavily engaged in regulatory reform,” and requires a robust, multifaceted and strategic approach to strengthening and expanding regulatory oversight. 

“The current regulatory environment is in dire need of reform, and the Ministry remains resolute in executing on the Government’s mandate as it relates to energy and utilities and the impact it has on” Islanders, the Minister said.

He pointed out that a key part of the reform will be the establishment of a multi-sector independent regulatory body, which will be responsible for ensuring regulatory accountability, good governance, independence, and transparency.

Crucial to the reform he said, will be modernising the legislative framework to better oversee monopoly and quasi-monopoly utilities, “ensuring that the Government sets policy while the Regulatory Commission carries out its legislated responsibilities independently,” he told the assembly.

He said sustainability underpins the strategic goals of the Department, and the critical intersection of regulatory reform and renewable energy highlights the necessity for a contemporary regulatory framework to address the evolving energy landscape. “This reform is pivotal for harnessing renewable energy’s potential to help with stabilising electricity rates,” he said

Minister Knowles said the ]Department will be “heavily engaged” with professional consultancy to support, mobilize and carry out its important work, and the Water Undertaking in line with the Government’s commitment to the development and expansion of water infrastructure on Grand Turk,  “significant progress has been made on the 1-million-gallon salt water reverse osmosis plant project.

“Many milestones have been met on this initiative and we anticipate a successful completion and commissioning this year after the construction of the Reverse Osmosis plant building, distribution pump building, feed pump building, piping works and electrical works for the Reverse Osmosis plant,” he said.

He also reported that the Department of Rehabilitation and Community Services is committed to preventing and reducing crime in the island, through effective offender management, community partnerships, and dynamic rehabilitation initiatives. 

“We will be focusing on enhancing the physical, procedural, and dynamic security across the prison. These efforts will ensure that we continue to protect and serve the public by keeping prisoners safely detained who pose the greatest risks to our nation’s security,” he said.

 The Domestic Fire and Rescue Service, one of key frontline departments, will be focusing on strengthening its legislative powers through the implementation of supporting regulations to ensure better compliance and stronger enforcement throughout the islands “ensuring that fire safety standards are adhered to and are supported by proper inspections and maintenance,” the Minister said.