News
Director of Social Development & Welfare Urges Responsible Behaviour Towards the Department and Children in Care
PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – As the Director of Social Development and Welfare in the Turks and Caicos Islands, it is with great concern that I address the recent incidents of malicious behaviour and communication towards our dedicated social workers and the children in state care.
Social workers play a crucial role in our community, providing essential support and services to vulnerable children, individuals and families. It is disheartening to see that during the course of our duties, we are being targeted with accusations and harmful rumours and behaviours that not only undermine our hard work but also jeopardise the well-being of the children and vulnerable adults under our care. I urge all community members to stand in solidarity with our department and to refrain from engaging in harmful behaviours that destabilise our efforts in protecting individuals.
I wish to emphasise the importance of responsible behaviour and communication when discussing matters related to our department and the children or vulnerable adults we serve. Acting violently towards our department and engaging in malicious communication not only harms our social workers in the course of their duty and the work that this department engages in but it also has serious consequences for the individuals in our care and families who rely on our services, as well as social workers and their private lives. Social workers are the backbone of our societal ills and we work tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable children
and adults in our communities. It is imperative that we recognise this and provide social workers with the support and protection that we need in order to carry out our duties responsibly and to effectively advocate for the best interests of the children and vulnerable adults we serve.
I urge all community members to exercise caution and compassion in their interactions with our department and to refrain from engaging in violent acts and sharing unverified information that can harm the reputation and effectiveness of our social services. The work that we engage in daily is sensitive and confidential, which limits our ability to discuss such matters in public forums, particularly children’s cases. Safeguarding children requires the utmost care and respect for their privacy, dignity and protection. Public discussions or speculations about specific cases are harmful and may jeopardise the safety and confidentiality of children, our fostering community and the families concerned.
We must work together to create a supportive and respectful environment for our social workers, families and the children in our care. If you have any concerns or suspicions regarding child abuse or safeguarding issues, we encourage you to reach out to the Department of Social Development and Welfare for assistance and if someone shares such concern in a public forum, I ask that you direct them to this department, which is the appropriate authority under the law. Our dedicated team is here to provide support, guidance, and intervention professionally and confidentially.
This Department tries its very best to work with parents and not against parents, however, a child’s safety will always be prioritised above all else. We have worked tirelessly over the years to strengthen our controls to safeguard children in care. Let us all work together to create a safe and supportive environment for our children that does not exploit them on public forums for personal gain but protects them during their childhood to either reunite with their natural families or to stay with their chosen families through continued fostering or adoption.
I encourage anyone with genuine concerns or feedback regarding our services to reach out to us directly so that we can address any issues constructively and transparently. We are formalising a complaints process that all persons will be welcome to utilise if they wish to share a grave concern for the work that we are doing or any other concern regarding our community. Your responsible actions and words can make a significant difference in protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.
The Department of Social Development and Welfare remains committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and care in our work, which has been entrusted to us. We are dedicated to serving the needs of our community and ensuring the well-being of all individuals, especially those who are most vulnerable.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation in this matter.
To report a safeguarding matter or complaint to this department, kindly see the contact information below:
MASH: 1-649-338-4013
Providenciales: 1-649-338-4008
Grand Turk: 1-649-338-2684
North Caicos: 1-649-338-6411/12
South Caicos: 1-649-338-6321
Follow us on Instagram: @socialdevelopment.welfare
Facebook: @department of social development, tcig
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
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