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The Turks and Caicos Islands Maintains Position as Top Performing Premium Class Destination  

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Minister of Tourism, the Hon Josephine Connolly

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS (November 20th, 2024) The Turk and Caicos Islands has maintained its position as the top performing Premium Class destination in the Caribbean for 2024.

The Turks and Caicos Islands showed a +35 percent growth in its market share and together with Aruba and Puerto Rico showed the most growth in this niche. These three islands collectively accounted for almost 15 percent of all premium class arrivals according to a Travels Trends and Outlook report from Forward Keys.

The Turks and Caicos Islands is also among the top destinations showing growth in family travel to the Caribbean with an 18 percent increase. The report said that family travel was one of the key drivers in the growth of Caribbean tourism with arrivals of family-sized groups (three-five passengers) to Caribbean destinations showing an increase of +11 percent year to date.

Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Josephine Connolly said the report shows that the Turks and Caicos Islands’ brand as a luxury destination remains strong.

“The Turks and Caicos Islands offers a luxury product to affluent, multi-generational travellers looking for authentic, unique, safe and exclusive experiences. Our “Beautiful by Nature” multi-island destination offers all of that and more and from our hotel partners to our taxi drivers, everyone in the tourism industry is working hard to ensure that our visitors enjoy a luxury experience from the moment they step out of their aircraft. I am very proud of our performance this year,” the Minister said.

Overall, the Turks and Caicos Islands has seen double digit growth in air arrivals in 2024 at 19 percent over that of 2023. This growth, the report noted, was largely from the United States with John F Kennedy airport in New York emerging as the top performing hub for Caribbean connectivity.

Airlines added +7% more seats to Caribbean destinations from JFK so far this year compared to the equivalent period in 2023 with the Turks and Caicos Islands registering an increase in arrivals of +40 percent.

The report noted that with the US elections, as of October 30th, the travel outlook between the USA and the Caribbean is expected to see a -13% drop due to Americans who wanted to be home to vote.

That drop was reflected in our September and October arrival numbers.

September, a traditionally low month due to the hurricane season, saw 30,548, air arrivals, a -3.87 decrease from the corresponding period in 2023 while October registered 39,638 arrivals, a – 4.22 percent compared to the same period in 2023. Air arrivals are expected to pick up for the US thanksgiving holiday.

Cruise passengers for September and October were more optimistic with September seeing 81,297 passengers arriving at the Grand Turk Cruise Centre, a 71.99 percent increase compared to 2023, while October saw 110,329, a whopping 147.025 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2023.

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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