News
TCIG nesting bird awareness
#TurksandCaicos, August 1, 2023 – The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) would like to remind residents and visitors of the Turks and Caicos Islands that the summer seabird nesting season is underway. Many species of gulls, terns, noddies, and other seabirds nest on the cays and remote beaches from May through August yearly.
DECR notes that all birds and their nests and eggs are protected in Turks and Caicos Islands under the Wild Birds Protection Ordinance, specifically:
Section 3 (1) “Any person commits an offense against this Ordinance who – (a) Wilfully kills, wounds, or takes, or attempts to kill, wound, or take any wild bird;(b) takes, removes, injures or destroys any nest or egg of any wild bird.”
This includes disturbing nesting sites by landing on seabird cays, walking through nesting areas, and allowing pets onto seabird cays or into nesting areas. Breeding seabirds can be highly sensitive to human activities at or near their nesting sites. Disturbance can affect nesting success and have longer-term impacts on colonies. Eggs are fragile and easily broken, eggs and small chicks can die if left unattended, and adult birds can abandon their nest resulting in breeding failure if disturbance is persistent.
Most of the remote cays on which seabirds nest are Protected Areas under the National Parks Ordinance (see list at end of article); those seabirds and their nests are also protected from disturbance by that Ordinance. Many of the remote seabird nesting cays are classified as Sanctuaries, for which landing without written permission from DECR (including landing on the beaches) is prohibited.
Seabirds may also nest in open areas on other islands, especially on beaches and dunes. Many species of seabirds do not make nests and keep their well-camouflaged eggs and chicks directly on sand or rock, which makes walking through a nesting area very dangerous to the eggs and chicks.
If you enter an area where seabirds are flying closely and noisily overhead, it is important to leave the area immediately. Do not attempt to throw objects or sand at the birds. They will not leave their nests. It is also crucial that eggs or chicks, even if seemingly abandoned, are not removed from the wild. As visitors to their habitats, and stewards of their ecosystem, it is our responsibility to minimise disturbance in this crucial time of their life cycle.
DECR Director Lormeka Williams explains, “Seabirds come to land only once per year to reproduce, and even seemingly small disturbances can ruin a nesting year. We are only beginning to understand the vital ecological role of nesting seabirds to the health of our coral reefs and their fascinating domino effect whereby the perfectly-balanced nutrient load from their nesting areas promotes not only increased fish presence, but also the health of large pelagic fish such as sharks.”
Dr. Rhiannon Auston of University of Liverpool has been working on seabird research in collaboration with DECR and the Turks and Caicos National trust for several years.
Dr. Austin states, “Seabirds are important components of healthy marine ecosystems. Many species are marine top predators that eat huge quantities of fish and roam over large stretches of the oceans to find food. Therefore, they link offshore and nearshore ecosystems, and playing important roles in nutrient cycling and maintaining healthy
reefs.” Dr Auston continues, “Seabirds are sensitive to changes in food availability and breed on land, making them relatively easy to monitor. Thus, they are excellent indicators of the health of marine ecosystems and are great tools for management.”
Follow seabird research in TCI on social media: @tciseabirds
Cays within Sanctuaries, where landing without written permission is prohibited, include the following:
Caicos Bank: French Cay, Seal Cay, Seal Pup Cays, White Cay, Pear Cay, Indian Cay, Shot Cay, Bush Cay.
Turks Bank: Long Cay, Big Sand Cay.
Other cays that are protected as National Parks or Nature Reserves include the following:
Caicos Bank: Chalk Sound Cays, Little Water Cay, Mangrove Cay, Lizard Cay, Bird Cay, Star Island, Fort St George Cay, Grouper Cay, Stubbs Cay, Three Mary Cays, East Bay Cays, Guana Cay, Middleton Cay, Horse Cay, Iguana Cay, Small Moxey Bush, Dove Cay, Long Cay, Six Hills Cays, Fish Cays, Little Ambergris Cay,
Turks Bank: Gibb’s Cay, Round Cay, Penniston Cay, Pear Cay, Martin Alonzo Pinzon Cay (East Cay).
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
