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Contractors finally secured for Provo Landfill; New Managers start in March

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Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

 

#TurksandCaicos, January 19, 2024 – “It’s a good day. It is a day that we have been waiting for for a long time.”

Those were the words coming from Kyle Knowles, Wheeland’s Elected Representative and the Government’s lead on Solid Waste Management for the Turks and Caicos Islands as he spoke during the January 18 press conference, introducing the company expected to fix his constituency’s biggest issue, the Wheeland Dump.

Of TCI Green Ecological Corporation Limited, who secured the $2.9 million contract, he said, “We do count it a pleasure to have new partners on the ground with us– in order to get it right we needed to find the right partners. We needed to make sure that in executing we dotted all our I’s and crossed all our T’s and got value for dollar.”  he stressed, .

The Member of Parliament, who lives in Wheeland, has first hand experience of the years of horrors – just like all of the other residents – of the smoke, smell, and proximity of the Providenciales Landfill, aka, the Dump.

With the onboarding of TCI Green Ecological, that should change, or so the MP hopes.

“The environmental hazards, health risks, and all of the things that have concerned you are shortly going to be addressed and to my estimation, alleviated once and for all.” he continued “We do understand that patience was running thing but again bear with us as we– move forward to reforming solid waste in the TCI.”

As head of the Solid Waste Taskforce, Knowles thanked Ministry of Health technocrats for their work and referenced the ongoing Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Solid Waste Consultation which is about 60 percent complete.

“Upon Completion, the CDB will provide a comprehensive tender of a solid waste management building design for the Turks and Caicos. Again, where we are right now is addressing the short and medium challenges that plague us at the Provo dump site,” he continued “We have to deal with the current issues and manage the medium issues while we look to the long-tern issues and I think it’s important for us to internalize it and make sure that this government sees it through.”

Shaun Malcolm, TCI Minister of Health, was also at the event and explained what the waste numbers looked like locally.

“As of April 2019, the Department estimates a daily solid waste production of approximately 335 tons a day. However, the site, covering approximately 66 acres, has the potential for expansion to accommodate the growing waste management needs of our community,” he said.

The hiring of TCI Green Ecological Corporation Limited ends a six year gap where there was no dedicated manager for the landfills in both Providenciales and Grand Turk.  This new deal, to the disappointment of some residents, will not include Grand Turk.

Minister Malcolm did however mention an upcoming recycling partnership between the government and Carnival Cruises for the Capital, which is also distressed by the long standing issues attached to poor solid waste management there.

The new contractors will take over the Providenciales Landfill on March 5.

Bahamas News

Royal Bahamas Police Force – ARRAIGNMENT NOTICE

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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

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Saunders Tells Caribbean Media: Be Seen, Be Heard – But What About TCI

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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

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Bahamas News

Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday

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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

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