News
Dump Fire leads to Smoggy start to Commonwealth Day for thousands in Providenciales
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 21, 2024 – Monday, March 12 dawned bleak and smoggy in areas of Providenciales because of the effects of a massive fire at the dump over the weekend. It’s been described as an “environmental disaster,” by residents enduring the blanketing smoke and is also labelled, ‘one of the worst’ instances of fire and resulting smoke in the area.
It was a hotspot, discovered by a team from the Environmental Health Department that caused the blaze.
”The fire originated from a fire extinguishing exercise and was triggered by a hotspot flare up. During the early morning on Saturday, March 9, 2024, TCI Green Ecological Corporation Limited, the new management company of the solid waste management facility, identified a hotspot flare up in the northwestern area of the landfill site. Swift action was taken by alerting the Domestic Fire Service
and other supporting agencies to contain the situation,” said Kyle Knowles Minister for Public Safety and Utilities and Member of Parliament for Wheeland and West Caicos around 12:30 p.m. Monday.
By that time the smoke was thankfully clearing, but the morning and the night before had been horrific for residents.
“The struggle is real,” one resident said, “driving through the smoke this morning— people who live in Phase Two, I feel for you all this morning. I live all the way in the back (of the housing subdivision) and I can smell it. With the dew and smoke this morning that means you all can taste it. For anybody with respiratory problems, God be with y’all. ”
The resident inferred the possibility that the cool wet early morning air was trapping the smoke. It’s not hard to imagine that the Monday morning phenomenon was smog, a fog made heavier and thicker by smoke or chemicals.
Photos were shared of the black low hanging smoke literally blanketing roadways and smothering shrubs and bushes.
Other residents were shocked at the reach of the smog and concerned about vulnerable residents’ health .
“This is the worst it has ever been. Blankets of thick, dense, awful smelling smoke have covered both phases. The toxic smoke will definitely affect the quality of life for the people in this community,” said a resident.
Medical complaints quickly arose as well.
“This needs to be a major headline mainly because of the health implications on young children and the elderly—Coughing, burning eyes, serious respiratory problems,” our team was told.
The affected area was widespread, reports from residents implicated, Chicken Shack; Phase Two; Millenium Highway; Blue Hills; Downtown; Five Cays and Phase One.
“The EHD wishes to advise the residents of Providenciales, especially those living in the Wheeland Phase 2 area, that the Department and TCI Green Ecological are urgently addressing the current fire at the disposal site with the assistance of all stakeholders. As of this Press Release, the fire has been approximately 85% contained. Residents are reminded to keep doors and windows closed to avoid any potential exposure to smoke while the fire is being brought under control,” said the Department of Environmental Health just before 1 p.m. on Monday.
TCI Green Ecological Corporation, the new managers of the Dump who took over just under a week ago, on Tuesday March 5th, had issued a statement on Sunday. 
“Yesterday morning, at approximately 7:00 am, our team detected a hotspot flare-up in the northwestern section of the landfill. We acted promptly, alerting emergency services, and initiating our containment procedures. The situation was brought under control with the assistance of Environmental Health and supportive local agencies.Thanks to the collaborative efforts of all involved, the landfill resumed operations the next day.”
Despite the assurances, residents were furious with the situation.
Minister Knowles pleaded with residents for understanding, reminding them that extinguishing services were not a one off and the exercises would continue until June as scheduled.
”Ongoing extinguishing and remediation activities should be anticipated. However, every effort will be made to minimize and promptly address any potential effects such as hotspot flare ups, which could escalate into larger fires.”
The government has not given any indication on how it will handle any medical claims arising from the fire which is only the latest in years of similar experiences.
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
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
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
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
