News
“Our Sense of Security is at Risk: Is It Time for TCI to Rethink Gun Ownership?”
Turks and Caicos, September 5, 2024 – In the Turks and Caicos Islands, we find ourselves at a crossroads where the increasing wave of gun-related violence is shattering the sense of security that once defined our communities.
The question we must confront is whether law-abiding citizens should have the right to arm themselves in the face of these threats, or whether that decision would bring more harm than good.
It’s not about promoting a culture of guns in our beautiful by nature islands, but about acknowledging a harsh reality: crime is not just a problem in “other” parts of the community.
The violence we’re witnessing is no longer confined to distant headlines; it has reached our doorsteps, mentally and physically affecting us all, regardless of where we live.
The psychological impact of knowing that a crime has occurred close to home can be devastating, and the fear that the perpetrators remain at large only heightens this sense of insecurity.
Currently, only a very small fraction of our population is legally allowed to own firearms, leaving the rest of us vulnerable, sitting ducks in the face of potential attacks.
But does this mean that more people should be armed? Owning a gun, while providing a sense of security, also carries significant risks. The potential for tragic accidents or misuse is real, and the decision to own a firearm should be made with great caution. It’s a
responsibility that should not be taken lightly.
Nevertheless, there is a compelling argument that criminals are deterred by the possibility of encountering an armed homeowner. Studies suggest that 74% of criminals avoid homes when they believe the residents may be armed. Yet, the mere presence of guns in a home introduces new risks, especially if they are not stored securely or used responsibly.
The debate over firearm ownership is not a simple one. It requires us to weigh the need for personal protection against the potential dangers that come with increased access to guns.
In the Turks and Caicos Islands, even less-lethal means of self-defense, such as Tasers and pepper spray, are currently restricted, leaving citizens with few options to protect themselves.
If we do move toward allowing more citizens to own firearms, it should come with strict regulations. Mandatory training, mental health evaluations, and regular recertification should be non-negotiable. This will ensure that only those who are fully capable of handling such responsibility are granted this right.
There are other alternatives that should not be overlooked.
Focusing on strengthening social controls—through community engagement, education, and economic support. Most importantly, providing real solutions to protect our wide open borders might offer an even more sustainable solution.
Ultimately, the question of whether expanding legal gun ownership is the right path for our islands is complex and fraught with challenges.
What is clear, however, is that the current situation—where violent crime is rising and citizens feel increasingly unsafe—is untenable. We must carefully evaluate our security needs and consider all options to protect our community before the situation deteriorates further.
Every country must assess its own circumstances and decide what’s in the best interest of its people. For us, that means having an honest conversation about the role of firearms or other deterrent devices in our society, and whether they are a necessary tool for our defense.
This should include taking a closer look at the arrest and conviction rate of the offenders to better determine whether or not this is prudent step or a danger toward more violence.
When it’s all said and done, the stakes are high, and the decisions we make now will shape the future of safety in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Ed Forbes
Concerned Citizen
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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