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43 Nominated as Voters decide who will lead TCI into Next Decade

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Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

 

Turks and Caicos, January 19, 2025 – Forty-three men and women have secured nominations for the February 7 General Elections according to the Elections Department of the Turks and Caicos Islands; it reflects a relative decrease in nominee interest despite a constitutional expansion of electable seats in the House of Assembly.

Nomination day was held on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 across the voting districts of the TCI.

Each of the major political parties – the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) and the Progressive National Party (PNP) had 19 individuals officially nominated for the 19 seats now up for grabs in the upcoming runoff.  Ten of those seats are districts, the other nine are for the all-island or at-large contenders.

It is a consequential race which establishes who will govern the islands into the next decade.

The third party, the Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) which now enters its third election race has one man who will challenge in the all-island category, which has grown from five seats to nine.

Five independent candidates have nominated this time around, showing a waning interest there as electors continue to cast votes largely for the established political machinery.

In the recent constitutional amendment, which took effect in late November 2024, the concept of appointing four people to the House of Assembly was repealed and replaced.  The four, which came – two from the Governor and one from each major party – will now be elected to serve by the Voters.

Each ballot will feature two distinct sections, according to the Elections Department.  One section will be devoted to the all-island candidates, the other section will be for the constituency or district candidate choices.

Voters will choose nine people in the all-island category and one individual to represent their home constituency.

Forty-three names on a single ballot where you get to choose multiple candidates may seem daunting, but over the years electors have managed the transition remarkably well, though the tallying process was often described as protracted.

It was in 2012 that the Turks and Caicos adopted, constitutionally, this unique style of voting.  It would still employ the first past the post system, which gives the seat to the candidate with the popular vote or most votes at the end of the night.  It now also gave electors the option of choosing more representatives.  That meant someone for the district and five people who ran on a national level.

Previously, Turks and Caicos elections featured 15 constituency seats; often with only two contenders.  One from the PDM and one from the PNP; voters were expected to select one and be done.  Over the years that has brought election victory evenly to these two political camps.  Six election wins for the PDM, the oldest party and six election wins for the PNP, the incumbent party.

Based on the numbers, the dramatic change to elect not one but six MPs presented in the revised, UK-drafted 2011 Constitution Order seemed to be an exciting new prospect.  It followed three-years of UK Direct Rule, when elected representation was put on hold due to jarring allegations of “systemic corruption” in government and abuse of power in governance.

This broadening of the field of who could serve in the house of representatives held the power to not only disrupt the popularity of a two party system but it flung wide the doors of opportunity to individuals who brought independent insight and opted to run unattached to the entrenched parties.

There were 37 candidates in that general election, given the nod by the PDM, the PNP, the PPP (People Progressive Party, which is now defunct) and those who ran as independents.

The November 9, 2012 general election ballot had six constituencies which featured three candidates, four of them offered to the voter two candidates and vying for the five all-island seats available at that time, were 11 individuals.

Voter turnout was nearly 88%; the highest it’s been since the 2011 constitution was enacted.

Four years later, the December 15, 2016 general election saw voter turnout dip by 7% but candidates’ interest in House of Assembly representation boomed with 52 nominees.

It was the election cycle that saw the birth of a new political party, the PDA and a whopping number of independents offered for the five all-island seats.

History shows 31 candidates ran for the 10 district seats with South Caicos fielding the most, at four candidates on the district side of the ballot paper.  In the all-island category, 21 names were presented to the nation.

Fast forward to February 19, 2021 when interest in candidacy dwindled to its lowest, 38 people.

We saw no challenge of the PDA in any of the constituencies and unattached interest came from seven individuals.

Voter turnout also dropped dramatically in 2021 to 75%, reflecting that over 2,000 voters or one third of the electorate did not participate in the vote. While the lower turnout could have been fear linked to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, many leaned toward high voter apathy or disillusionment with the political system.

After a noteworthy bi-partisan victory on changes to the Constitution, the 2024 amendments gave voters more to consider.  More candidates for which to cast a vote, more years for political parties to serve and more ministers to carry out country affairs, among other things.

Voters can select a total of ten individuals to serve in what will now be the Parliament of the Turks and Caicos Islands.  That’s four more votes to be carefully chosen by colouring in an oval next to the name of the candidates of one’s choice.  One constituency, nine all-island.

The excruciating wait for returns and results on the choices of now 9,353 registered voters – an increase of 772 electors – will be cut significantly as ballots will now be tabulated, electronically.

Electronic voting makes its debut in the Turks and Caicos Islands on February 7, 2025 and when the results come in, whomever is named the winner in each of the 10 districts and whomever makes it as among the top nine finishers in the All-Island category will go on to comprise the Parliament for the next five years.

Caribbean News

Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion  

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Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.

The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.

“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.

“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”

Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.

Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.

Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”

Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.

Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.

Photo Caption: 

TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain

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Multi-Agency Enforcement Action Conducted in Five Cays

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 20 February 2026 — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in collaboration with key government agencies, coordinated a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Block and Parcel 60609/33 in the Five Cays area.

The exercise was led by the Crown Land Unit, pursuant to its statutory mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land. The ISU coordinated the operation, with support provided by the Planning Department and the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, while the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force ensured security throughout the activity.

The enforcement action followed a series of inspections conducted by the Crown Land Unit throughout Five Cays, which identified several illegally constructed buildings made of concrete and timber on sections of the subject parcel. In keeping with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance, occupied structures were served Letters of Illegal Occupation, delivered by hand to occupants and posted on structures where individuals were absent. Incomplete and unoccupied structures were served Notices of Unauthorized Occupation pursuant to section 22 of the Ordinance. A total of ten (10) Letters of Illegal Occupation and three (3) Notices of Unauthorized Occupation were issued during the exercise.

The Informal Settlements Unit reiterates that these coordinated enforcement exercises form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the law, protect Crown land, and manage informal settlements in a structured and lawful manner. Members of the public are reminded that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown land is unlawful and subject to enforcement action.

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Health

What to Look for with Self-Checks at Home

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February is National Self- Check Month and family medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, OH, John Hanicak, MD, highlights why at home self-checks are extremely important when it comes to not just early cancer detection but identifying other illnesses too and offers tips on what to look out for.

“Sometimes Ilook at them as sort of like your check engine light on the car, just like therewould be a red flashing light that tells you that there’s something wrong with acar and prompts you to bring that in and get serviced. Your body does the samething. It gives you warning signs tolook intothat symptom a little bit further,” said Hanicak.

Dr. Hanicak saidself-checks are going to be a little different for everyone. 

However, in general, he recommends looking for anything that may seem abnormal, such asunexplained weight loss,blood in your urine, bumps and bruisesthat won’t heal,and changes in bowel habits. 

For example, if you suddenly start going to the bathroom a lot more than you used to, that could bea signof something more serious. 

He also suggestsdoing regular skin checksanddocumentingany molesor spotsthat start to look different. 

“Realize that you are your own person.There’s nobody else in the world exactly like you.You’ve got your own set ofideas, your own family history and your own genetics.Know what is normal for you, and when that changes, that’s the kind of thing thatwe would be interested in talking about,” said Dr. Hanicak. 

Dr. Hanicaknotes that self-checks are not meant to replace cancer screenings, as those are just as important to keep up with. 

Press Release: Cleveland Clinic

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