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New Year’s Day Around the World, who got to 2024 first?

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Dana Malcolm

Staff writer

 

January 1, 2024 – As we welcomed the year 2024 on Monday January 1, some fireworks went off before others, as they do every year, but what determines who celebrates the new year first?

The short answer is time zones and the International Date Line.

United Kingdom

The Date Line is the internationally accepted boundary between one day and the next and sits halfway around the world from the Prime Meridian.  Generally, if a map was spread flat, with the IDL in the middle; to the west of the Date Line would be eastern countries like Russia, New Zealand, and Japan.  To the right, are Western countries including the Americas and some parts of Europe and Africa.  However, one would find there are even some of the easternmost countries that lie just to the right of the line, like American Samoa.  It means despite sitting right next to each other Kiribati and American Samoa are generally the very first and very last countries respectively to experience the new year.

The IDL is not legally binding, and countries can make requests to be on either side.  In fact, Kiribati used to be bisected by the line, with some of its islands celebrating the new year first,  and others much later.  Following a request to include all of its islands on the western side of the line the country officially became the first to celebrate New Year’s each year.

There are 38 time zones.  Each time zone celebrates New Year’s Day in a staggered motion.  Time Zones are listed below with some of the countries that fall into each, and the corresponding TCI time when they hit the 12 am mark.

UTC+14:00 including Kiribati at 5 a.m. Sunday

UTC+13:45 including sections New Zealand at 5:15 a.m. Sunday

UTC+13:00 including Tonga at 6 AM on Sunday

UTC+12:00 including Fiji at 7 AM Sunday

UTC+11:00 including the Solomon Islands at 8 AM Sunday

UTC+10:30 including Australia at 8:30 AM Sunday

UTC+10:00 including Papua New Guinea at 9 AM Sunday

UTC+09:30 including at 9:30 Northern Australia AM Sunday

UTC+09:00 including at  Japan, Korea (N&S), and Russia 10 AM Sunday

UTC+08:45 including Western Australia at 10:15 AM Sunday

UTC+08:00 including China at 11 AM Sunday

UTC+07:00 including Thailand at 12 p.m. Sunday

UTC+06:30 including  Mynmar at 12:30 p.m Sunday

UTC+06:00 including Bangladesh at 1 PM Sunday

UTC+05:45 including Nepal  at 1:15 PM Sunday

UTC+05:30 including India at 1:30 PM Sunday

UTC+05:00 including The Maldives at 2 PM Sunday

UTC+04:30 including Afghanistan at 2:30 PM Sunday

UTC+04:00 including the UAE at 3 PM Sunday

UTC+03:30 including Iran at 3:30 PM Sunday

UTC+03:00 including Kenya  at  4 PM Sunday

UTC+02:00 including South Africa and Greece  at 5 PM Sunday

UTC+01:00 including Germany Frances and Denmark at  6 PM Sunday

UTC+00:00 including The UK, Ghana, and Ireland at  7 PM Sunday

UTC−01:00 including The Cabo Verde Islands at 8 PM Sunday

UTC−02:00 including Brazil at 9 PM Sunday

UTC−03:00 including Argentina and Chile at 10 PM Sunday

UTC−03:30 including parts of Canada at 10:30 PM, Sunday

UTC−04:00 including Barbados, and The Dominican Republic  at 11 PM Sunday

UTC−05:00 including The Turks and Caicos, The United States, The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Cayman at 12 AM Monday

UTC−06:00 including Belize at 1 AM Monday

UTC−07:00 including parts of Mexico at 3 AM Monday

UTC−08:00 including the Pitcairn Islands at 3 AM Monday

UTC−09:00 including Alaska at  4 AM Monday

UTC−09:30 including French Polynesia at 5 AM Monday

UTC−10:00 including Hawaii at 5:30 AM Monday

UTC−11:00 including American Samoa at 6 AM Monday

UTC−12:00 including uninhabited islands at 6 AM Monday

Huge celebrations were held in almost every location.

Kiribati has become a niche tourist destination for those who want to ring in the new year first.

Fireworks and drone shows populated the globe, going off one after the other with sometimes as little as fifteen minutes in between time zones.

Exciting and by now, we are all well into the Year 2024!

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Police Commissioner Honoured with Distinguished Civic Service Award at TCHTA Star Awards

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey has been recognised for his contribution to national security and the tourism industry, receiving the Distinguished Civic Service Award at the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association’s Star Awards held on February 19, 2026 at Beaches Turks and Caicos.

The annual awards ceremony is the premier recognition event for the territory’s hospitality sector, bringing together industry leaders, executives and frontline professionals to celebrate excellence and the individuals whose work strengthens the destination’s global reputation.

Commissioner Bailey was honoured for his strategic leadership in the fight against crime and the measurable reductions in major offences, efforts widely credited with improving public confidence and reinforcing the Turks and Caicos Islands’ standing as a safe and competitive tourism jurisdiction.

In accepting the award, the Commissioner dedicated the recognition to the officers and staff of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, praising their commitment and professionalism in what he described as a collective national effort to make the islands more secure.

The TCHTA Star Awards spotlight the link between public safety and tourism performance, acknowledging that a stable and safe environment is essential to visitor confidence, investment and the continued growth of the sector.

This year’s ceremony featured high-energy hosting by Super P the Entertainer, with Omega serving as awards announcer, as the industry gathered to honour the people and partnerships that continue to elevate the Turks and Caicos brand.

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Health

TCI Hospital Celebrates Successful “Heart Strong TCI” Initiative During Heart Month

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(Providenciales – Monday, March 2, 2026) TCI Hospital proudly announces the successful achievement of its Heart Strong TCI initiative, a comprehensive Heart Month campaign focused on raising awareness and strengthening cardiovascular disease prevention efforts across the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the Turks and Caicos Islands, highlighting the critical need for sustained public education, risk-factor reduction, and early intervention. The Heart Strong TCI initiative was designed to actively engage the community through education, outreach, and physical activity.

Key Activities Included:

Educational Training Sessions

Healthcare professionals conducted structured sessions addressing hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol management, nutrition, exercise, smoking cessation, and the early warning signs of heart disease.

House Call Talk Show Feature

A dedicated Heart Month episode of the hospital’s House Call program provided expert discussion on cardiovascular risk factors and prevention strategies, empowering viewers with practical, evidence-based guidance.

Red Fridays Awareness Campaign

Throughout the month, staff wore red every Friday to increase visibility around heart disease awareness and reinforce the campaign’s message within the community.

Heart Strong 5K Walk/Run

In collaboration with the Rotary Club, TCI Hospital hosted a community-wide 5K walk/run to promote physical activity as a cornerstone of heart health. The walk/run also provided an opportunity for community screening.

Digital Health Education Campaign

To expand its reach, TCI Hospital also shared ongoing heart health education tips and prevention messages across its social media platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. These posts provided actionable guidance on diet, exercise, blood pressure control, and lifestyle modification, and encouraging community members to learn CPR.

Heart Strong TCI: A Continuous Commitment

While Heart Month has officially ended, Heart Strong TCI represents an ongoing institutional commitment to cardiovascular disease prevention and awareness. TCI Hospital will continue to prioritize:

  • Community-based education initiatives
  • Preventative screening and early detection programs
  • Lifestyle and wellness promotion
  • Strategic partnerships that advance public health outcomes

“Heart Strong TCI is not limited to a single month,” CEO, Dr. Denise Braithwaite-Tennant.  “Cardiovascular disease prevention requires sustained effort. We remain committed to promoting healthy hearts across the Turks and Caicos Islands year-round.”

For more information about cardiovascular health services or upcoming screening initiatives, please contact TCI Hospital at 649-941-2800 in Providenciales, 649-941-2900 in Grand Turk or email us at info@interhealthcanada.tc

About TCI Hospital

TCI Hospital is dedicated to delivering high-quality healthcare services to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, with a strong emphasis on prevention, education, and community wellness.

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New Chartered Accountant Member Appointed to The Integrity Commission

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Darius E. Ferguson, Member of the Integrity Commission Board

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Friday, 27 February 2026: Her Excellency the Governor, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, today announced the appointment of Mr. Darius E. Ferguson as a Member of the Integrity Commission Board, serving as the Chartered Accountant Member in accordance with Section 3(2)(a) of the Integrity Commission Ordinance. His appointment is for a period of three (3) years and follows consultation with the President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Society of Professional Accountants.

Mr. Ferguson, with family ties to Providenciales and South Caicos, is a Chartered Accountant with over twenty years of senior leadership experience across aviation, finance, technology and consultancy, he brings a strong and diverse background in financial governance, regulatory compliance and strategic planning.

A former Chief Financial Officer of Sky Bahamas Airlines for a decade, Mr. Ferguson managed all financial reporting, regulatory engagement, capital projects and commercial development initiatives. He previously served in senior audit roles at both Ernst & Young LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, leading high‑risk audit engagements and ensuring adherence to international financial and accounting standards.

Throughout his career, Mr. Ferguson has demonstrated a strong commitment to professional ethics, community leadership and organisational accountability. His experience across corporate governance, financial oversight, and operational risk management will bring valuable strategic insight to the Integrity Commission.

Her Excellency the Governor welcomed the appointment, stating:

“Mr. Ferguson’s extensive background in financial management, auditing and governance, together with his leadership experience across both corporate and community sectors, make him well‑suited to serve on the Integrity Commission. His appointment strengthens our ongoing commitment to integrity, transparency and accountability in public life. I am confident that he will make a meaningful contribution to the Commission’s important work.”

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