News
Silver Airways Launches New Service to the Turks and Caicos Islands
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS (December 18th, 2023) –Silver Airways made its inaugural flight to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands on Monday, December 18th, 2023.
The airline will operate twice-weekly flights non-stop from Fort Lauderdale to Providenciales.
Mr. Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services, said at a press conference on Monday,
December 18th, 2023 at the Howard Hamilton Airport, that the new airlift will make the Turks and Caicos Islands even more accessible.
“The Turks and Caicos Islands have been a destination of unparalleled beauty with white sand beaches, crystal clear turquoise water and a vibrant culture that captivates all of us. Now with the arrival of Silver Airways, the islands are set to become even more accessible, allowing us to share our slice of paradise. With an increase in activity, we could attract more tourists and hence economic growth and create new employment opportunities for our people. As we embark on this new partnership with Silver Airways, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the airlines’ leadership, and the TCIAA who worked tirelessly to make this partnership a reality,” he said.
Mr. Wesley Clerveaux, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, spoke on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Josephine Connolly.
He stressed that the introduction of more accessible options will not compromise the high standard of luxury service that the Turks and Caicos Islands brand is synonymous with.
“I, therefore, challenge Silver Airways to not only meet but exceed expectations by offering a luxurious experience for both our local travelers and the discerning visitors who have come to recognise TCI as a destination that sets the standard in its class. We have every confidence that Silver Airways will rise to this challenge and contribute to the continued success and global reputation of the Turks and Caicos Islands as a world-class destination,” he said.
Mr. Steven Rossum, CEO of Silver Airways, said the airline has 12 unique destinations in the Caribbean and the Turks and Caicos Islands is the first island destination added to their portfolio since the pandemic.
“It is a beautiful island with a rich tradition of treating people well, of having visitors come back and be excited, pristine beaches, amazing restaurants, wonderful accommodation, diving, shopping, we are proud that you want to be affiliated with us. This is a first-class island, a first-class destination and we are proud to be here. We will be good citizens for Turks and Caicos, we will work well with the community, we will work well with the Airports Authority, with the members of the travel community and we are excited to work with our partners on the ground,
InterCaribbean, who is ground handling for us, providing maintenance for us,” he said.
He said the airline has code-sharing agreements with Delta Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue and others to facilitate easy transfers.
Devon Fulford, Acting CEO of the Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority (TCIAA), praised the airline for its dedication to safety and comfort and efficiency.
“We look forward to a beautiful collaboration that benefits the residents and visitors alike. May this inaugural flight mark the beginning of a prosperous partnership between Silver Airways and the Turks and Caicos Islands,” he said.
Esmond Johnson, Regional Manager for Silver Airways, said introductory ticket prices start at US$129 from Fort Lauderdale to Providenciales. Flight time is two and a half hours.
He said the airline will be using the ATR72 aircraft with a 70-seat capacity and the ATR42 aircraft with a 46-seat capacity on the route.
Photo Caption:
Header: From Left: Mr. Pascal Bacchus, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Border Services, Mr. Avi Adams, Director of the Dept of Tourism Regulations, the Hon. Shaun Malcolm, Minister of Health and Human Services, Mr. Gordon Burton, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Steven Rossum, CEO, Silver Airways, the Hon. Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services, Mr. Esmond Johnson, Regional Manager, Silver Airways, Mr. Wesley Clerveaux, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Devon Fulford, Actg CEO, TCIAA, Mr. James McAnally, President, TCHTA, Ms. Nikeva Ariza, Mgr Corporate Communications, TCIAA, Ms. Racquel Brown, Change Manager/Interim CEO, Experience Turks and Caicos
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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