News
“Search and Rescue and Marine Pollution Response” Workshop Enhances Operations for Marine Stakeholders
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS (November 28th, 2023) – In an effort to ensure our maritime stakeholders are equipped to manage marine pollution from oil and improve search and rescue procedures for marine operators, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resource Management (FMRM), the Ministry of Tourism and the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency is hosting a three-day workshop, “Search and Rescue and Marine Pollution Response” at the Opus Conference Room, November 28th to 30th, 2023.
The primary aims of the workshop are to enhance the country’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities, improve the effectiveness of search and rescue operations, particularly given the importance of marine activities to the tourism industry, and reduce the impact of pollution on public health and the environment. The exercise involves a range of activities, including search and rescue and pollution response simulations for emergency responders.
Delivering remarks at the opening of the Workshop on Tuesday, November 28th, 2023, Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Josephine Connolly said the workshop will prepare attendees to tackle challenges that are unique to the
marine industry.
“It is our collective responsibility to enhance our capabilities in responding to distress calls, conducting effective search operations, and executing timely rescue missions. Through this workshop, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of best practices, technological advancements, and international protocols that can optimise search and rescue operations in the Turks and Caicos waters,” she said.
Participants include local emergency responders, the Royal Caicos Police Force Marine Coastal Division, the TCI regiment, representatives of the Grand Turk Cruise Port, Core Resources, the Port Authority, TCI Civil Aviation Authority, South Bank Marina, Turtle Cove Marina, Customs, Immigration, the Fisheries and Marine Resource Management, and the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources.
In her remarks, Thecla Joseph, Director of Fisheries and Marine Resource Management, said the benefits of the workshop cannot be overstated.
“Search and Rescue operations are vital for ensuring the safety and security of maritime activities. The unique geographical location of the Turks and Caicos Islands makes it essential to enhance our capabilities in search and rescue to effectively respond to emergencies at sea. Furthermore, with the increasing concerns about maritime pollution, it is imperative that we come together to explore innovative solutions and best practices for preventing, mitigating and responding to pollution incidents in out waters,” she said.
During the interactive opening sessions, participants learned about the composition of crude oil, the behaviour and environmental effects of chemicals, the impact of accidents with container ships, and the laws governing marine incidents.
The highlight of the first day was a tabletop challenge in which participants were tasked with conceptualizing a Search and Rescue strategy for an incident in which two ships collided, and injured crew members.
Press Release
Header: Minister of Tourism, the Hon Josephine Connolly with participants of the Search and Rescue and Pollution Response Workshop
Insert: Minister of Tourism, the Hon Josephine Connolly with Ms. Thecla Joseph, Director of Fisheries and Marine Resource Management and from left, Mr. Levard Missick, Assistant Director of Enforcement, Department of Fisheries and Marine Resource Management, Mr. Arthur Been, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Neil Chapman, Environmental Science Lead, Mr. Phil Bostock, Operational Lead, Overseas Territories Search and Rescue Capability Project, Ms. Alison Leighton, Overseas Strategic Policy Manager, Mr. Stan Woznicki, Head of Counter Pollution and Salvage and Ms. Kathy Lockhart, Director of Fisheries.
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.
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