News
Informal Settlements Unit Connects with Haitian Community Through the Radio Waves
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI OCTOBER 23, 2023: The informal Settlements Unit (ISU) is continuing its progress with informing the public about the importance of their mission as they reach out to the non-English-speaking communities of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
This intercultural communication has started in the Haitian community via the radio waves. The ISU partnered with a figurehead of the Haitian community, Pastor Solomon Morency, owner of Example of Christ: Radio Creole 95.1 FM, to connect with his listeners and inform them of the organization’s efforts.
Speaking on the partnership, Justice Carlos Simons, KC, Strategic Lead of the ISU, said, “We are very excited to
partner with Pastor Morency to reach the Haitian community with vital information on our work and the services that are available as we continue our commitment in empowering the non-English speaking residents while helping to mitigate the formation of informal settlements.” He continued, “Our organization has taken a proactive approach to address this issue head-on and educate all residents through information. We seek to empower individuals by equipping them with crucial knowledge and resources to navigate the challenges associated with informal settlements.”
Pastor Morency has already hosted two live radio shows with members of the ISU and its supporting committees, and he is excited to continue his partnership with the organization to help disseminate information in the Haitian community.
Pastor Morency commented, “I am happy to partner with Justice Simons and his team. Through my station, I have been able to communicate and share important information with the Haitian people here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. By coming down to our station and reaching out to the people, in Creole, it shows how important it is to the ISU that everyone is not only made aware of the situation, but also how to protect themselves against misinformation regarding planning permissions when building their homes or any illegal land deals.”
Through a translator, Justice Simons, along with members of the Crown Land Unit and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, discussed the organization’s goal to build safer and more sustainable communities in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“In an increasingly interconnected world, effective communication is paramount to the work of our organization,” Justice Simons said, “and we are excited to continue our collaboration with Pastor Morency to keep everyone informed. We hosted a live call-in show last Saturday, September 30th, where members of the community were able to call in with their questions and concerns, which we were able to answer,” he said.
The ISU is also actively updating its website to include both Haitian Creole and Spanish translations to accompany the default English text. A translation into Tagalog is also planned as part of their future updates.
Justice Simons added, “We recognize the challenges faced by non-native English speakers in accessing vital services, information, and opportunities. By making content available in their native language, we are striving to create an environment that fosters understanding, inclusivity, and collaboration.”
He continued, “This will be an ongoing effort, and our team will be targeting all these communities through various dissemination channels to ensure that the work and mandate of the Informal Settlements Unit are being shared with all residents, whether English is their first language or not.”
For more information on the Informal Settlements Unit, residents are encouraged to visit their office on the 2nd floor of Laporte’s Plaza, Downtown, Providenciales, and subscribe to their multilingual website at www.isutci.com on the web.
Residents are also encouraged to follow the organization on their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram @isutci.
Photo Caption: Justice Carlos Simon, the Strategic Lead of the ISU (R), Dominique Durham, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development (L) with, Pastor Salomon Morency owner and host of Example of Christ, Radio Creole 95.1 FM.
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
NASSAU, Bahamas — More Bahamians are accessing HIV and sexually transmitted infection-related healthcare through National Health Insurance, a trend the NHI Authority says should be viewed positively.
NHIA stressed in an August 6 statement that its 2025 figures measure healthcare utilisation, not newly diagnosed infections. They include beneficiaries screened, treated, monitored or receiving follow-up care, including people diagnosed previously.
“Increased utilisation of these services should be viewed as a positive development,” NHIA said.
The Authority pointed to “greater enrolment and use of NHI, improved access to screening and testing, continued treatment and monitoring of existing conditions, and increased willingness to seek medical care.”
The development comes amid a mixed three-year HIV picture. New diagnoses rose from 130 in 2023 to 156 in 2024, before declining to 142 in 2025.
NHIA said increased utilisation demonstrates that more beneficiaries are accessing needed healthcare and actively managing their health, reinforcing the importance of screening, early diagnosis and continued treatment.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Americas has recorded 47,459 confirmed measles cases and 44 deaths in 2026, the region’s highest case count in 22 years, prompting the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to urge stronger vaccination, surveillance and rapid outbreak response.
As of July 18, cases were already more than triple the 15,011 recorded during all of 2025. Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Peru
account for 95% of confirmed cases. Guatemala leads with 30,371 cases and 26 deaths, followed by Mexico with 12,255 cases and 17 deaths.
PAHO classifies the regional public health risk as very high, citing active outbreaks, immunity gaps, international travel and populations with inadequate vaccination coverage.
The organization says prevention starts with vaccination. Countries are being urged to achieve and maintain at least 95% coverage with two doses of measles-containing vaccine, particularly protecting children and under-vaccinated communities.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash.
PAHO is urging health authorities to detect suspected cases early and respond rapidly to stop transmission. Unvaccinated and under-vaccinated people, young children and communities with limited healthcare access face increased risk of severe illness and death.
-
News1 week agoFacts According to the Turks & Caicos Premier About His Constitutional Amendments
-
News1 week ago80 DAYS. $80 MILLION. – PDM Demands Answers from Government
-
News1 week ago“The Contract is The Problem, Not The Hospitals”
-
News1 week ago
Premier Lays Out Cost of Hospital Dispute
-
News7 days agoPAY FIRST. QUESTION LATER.
-
Education1 week agoDr. Candice Williams Appointed First Vice-President of Regional Higher Education Association
-
Health3 days ago47,459 MEASLES CASES, 44 DEATHS ACROSS AMERICAS
-
News3 days agoELECTRICITY BILL SHOCKER: PELICAN ENERGY WARNED GOV’T