News
43 Nominated as Voters decide who will lead TCI into Next Decade
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amendment, which took effect in late November 2024, the concept of appointing four people to the House of Assembly was repealed and replaced.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.
September 12, 2025
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands – The Turks and Caicos Islands are home to a wealth of creativity, from artisans and craft vendors to musicians and performers. Beaches Turks and Caicos, the Caribbean’s leading all-inclusive family resort, has pledged its continued support for these individuals by providing meaningful platforms for them to share their skills and stories with guests from around the world.
The resort’s commitment is most evident in its weekly Cultural Night showcase, where visitors are immersed in the vibrant traditions of the islands. Guests enjoy live performances which feature local music genres such as ripsaw, while artisans display and sell handmade creations. This event not only enriches the guest experience but also strengthens economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
Entertainment Division Manager Garett Bailey emphasized the significance of Cultural Night, “we want to showcase everything the Turks and Caicos Islands culture has to offer. Our goal is for guests to leave with a deeper appreciation of the island’s art, music and traditions, while giving local talent the opportunity to share their creativity with visitors from across the globe.”
Beyond Cultural Night, Beaches Turks and Caicos also welcomes local craft vendors onto the resort every Wednesday and Friday
where they are offered a direct space to market their goods. Guests have easy access to the Turks and Caicos Cultural Marketplace, where they can purchase authentic local arts and crafts.
Managing Director, James McAnally, highlighted how these initiatives reflect the resort’s broader mission, “we are committed to celebrating and sharing the vibrant culture of these islands with our guests. By showcasing local artistry and music, we not only provide entertainment but also help sustain and grow the creative industries of the Turks and Caicos Islands. From our cultural showcases to nightly live music, we are proud to create authentic connections between our guests and the people of these islands.”
Local musician Keon Hall, who frequently performs at the resort, expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership, “being able to share my music with Beaches’ guests has created lasting relationships. Some visitors return year after year and request songs from previous performances. This partnership continues to celebrate what we do and strengthens the bond between local artists and the resort.”
The resort’s support of local artisans and entertainers extends beyond business opportunity; it is about preserving heritage and sharing stories. Guests take home more than souvenirs; they leave with experiences that deepen their understanding of Turks and Caicos’ culture and history.
Public Relations Manager, Orville Morgan, noted the importance of this commitment, “for many visitors, these interactions represent their first genuine connection to the Turks and Caicos Islands. From artisans and musicians to farmers and transport operators, our local talent helps shape every guest experience. At Beaches, we are proud to give them the stage to share their stories and their heritage.”
Beaches Turks & Caicos remains dedicated to developing cultural connections and supporting the artisans, musicians and entrepreneurs whose creativity makes the Turks and Caicos Islands unique. Each guest experience is an opportunity to celebrate and sustain the spirit of the islands.
Caribbean News
“Barbecue” is Cooked! US Turns Over 11 Million Haitians into Potential Informants with $5 Million Bounty
August 12, 2025
The United States just set fire to the underworld in Haiti — and this time, the smoke might finally flush out the man many call the most feared in the Caribbean.
On Tuesday, the U.S. government slapped a $5 million bounty on the head of Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, the ex-police officer
turned gang boss accused of orchestrating massacres, torching neighborhoods, and strangling Haiti’s capital into chaos. This isn’t just a headline — it’s a full-blown game-changer.
That kind of cash — offered under the State Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program — is enough to turn the country’s entire population, more than 11 million people, into potential informants overnight. Add the millions in the Haitian diaspora, and Chérizier isn’t just wanted. He’s surrounded.
The Number That Changes Everything
Five million U.S. dollars today equals about 655 million Haitian Gourdes. In a country where many scrape by on less than $5 a day, that’s not just life-changing — it’s life-defining. It’s enough to rebuild homes, put generations through school, or buy a one-way ticket far from the gunfire.
In a place where trust is scarce and survival is everything, that figure is more than tempting — it’s irresistible. For Chérizier, it means every friend could be a future informant, and every loyalist might be calculating the cost of staying loyal.
‘We Will Find Them’ — Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney
Jeanine “Judge Jeanine” Pirro, the U.S. Attorney, set the tone with fire in her voice. “This indictment is the first of its kind,” she announced. “Jimmy Chérizier, also known as ‘Barbecue,’ is a notorious gang leader from Haiti who has orchestrated and committed various acts of violence against Haitians, including the 2018 La Saline attack in which approximately 71 people were killed. He both planned and participated in that massacre.
“Anyone who is giving money to ‘Barbecue’ cannot say, ‘I didn’t know.’ They will be prosecuted, and we will find them. They are supporting an individual who is committing human rights abuses, and we will not look the other way.”
Pirro wasn’t just going after Chérizier. She was sending a warning to the Haitian diaspora accused of feeding his war chest from abroad: the days of claiming ignorance are over.
‘No Safe Haven’ — Darren Cox, FBI
Then came Darren Cox, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI, delivering the muscle of America’s most powerful investigative force. “There is no safe haven for Chérizier and his network,” Cox declared. “We are closing every link, every cell.” Since January, he said, the FBI has arrested three Top Ten fugitives, taken more than 19,000 criminals off the streets, and seized thousands of tons of narcotics — enough to save millions of lives across the U.S.
The FBI’s Miami and Houston offices have already bagged one of Chérizier’s Viv Ansanm associates inside the United States without firing a shot. “These efforts are a deliberate and coordinated plan,” Cox said, “to protect our communities and confront escalating threats from terrorist organizations like Viv Ansanm.”
‘Three-Year Investigation’ — Ivan Arvelo, HSI
Ivan Arvelo, Assistant Director of Homeland Security Investigations, brought the receipts. “This is the result of a three-year investigation into Chérizier’s procurement networks, cash pipelines, and operational financing that violates sanctions,” he explained. Arvelo described 400 structures destroyed, entire communities erased, and a gang exploiting U.S. dollars, technology, and immigration loopholes to keep its killing machine running. “We tracked how Americans unwittingly bankrolled brutality,” he said — proof that the net is tightening both inside Haiti and abroad.
‘The Worst of the Worst’ — Chris Lambert, State Department
Chris Lambert, representing the State Department’s International Affairs division, gave the political bottom line.
“Mass violence in Haiti must end,” Lambert said. “The instability resulting from Chérizier’s actions fuels illegal migration, regional
instability, and transnational crime. We will continue to apply every tool available — including our rewards programs — to stop the spread of unchecked violence, especially to target the worst of the worst criminal leaders threatening the people of our hemisphere.”
Lambert confirmed what many have long known: Chérizier is not just a gang leader. He commands Viv Ansanm, officially designated in May as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. In the eyes of the U.S., that makes him not just Haiti’s problem — but everyone’s.
Why Haitians May Not Resist
In Haiti, money talks — loudly. And when you put 655 million Gourdes on the table, it shouts.
That’s the kind of figure that turns casual acquaintances into informants and makes even the most hardened loyalist wonder if the payout is worth more than the risk. It’s not a matter of “if” word gets out, it’s a matter of “who will be first to collect.”
For grieving families, it’s a chance at justice. For the desperate, it’s a chance at survival. For Haiti as a whole, it’s hope — wrapped in the most dangerous of temptations.
An Answer to Prayers
For years, Haiti’s headlines have been a scroll of horrors — kidnappings, executions, burned neighborhoods, bodies in the streets. Chérizier’s name has been attached to too many of them.
This move by the U.S. isn’t just strategy. It’s personal. It’s a signal to every Haitian — at home or abroad — that the days of impunity could be ending.
I’ll admit it: when I heard the news, I danced, I sang, and I nearly cried. Not because $5 million is a lot of money, but because of what it means — the possibility, at last, of stopping the man accused of helping turn Haiti into hell on earth.
Four officials, four angles, one mission: Pirro’s fire, Cox’s grit, Arvelo’s precision, Lambert’s conviction. Together, they’ve put the heat on “Barbecue” like never before.
BBQ is cooked. The only question now is: which one of over 11 million potential informants will serve him up?
By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
What would happen if the Caribbean started spending more with Africa?
That question is no longer hypothetical. It’s the vision behind a growing movement that sees the Caribbean not just as a neighbor of the Americas, but as a key partner in the rise of a “Global Africa.” With shared history, deep cultural ties, and emerging trade frameworks, experts say the potential is enormous—if the will to act finally matches the passion of the speeches.
Billions on the Table
Today, trade between Africa and the Caribbean sits at just over US $729 million annually. But the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Afreximbank project that number could balloon to US $1.8 billion per year by 2028—more than doubling in just a few years.
This boost is expected to come not just from commodities, but increasingly from services, particularly in transport, travel, food exports, and creative industries. Two-thirds of that growth, according to analysts, could come from services alone—sectors where the Caribbean is eager to expand. (afreximbank.com).
Meanwhile, Africa’s consumer and business spending is forecasted to skyrocket to US $6.66 trillion by 2030, driven by a population boom and rising middle class.
The Case for a New Trade Axis
The Caribbean imports 80% of its food, but many of those goods can be sourced from African markets. What we offer in return? World-class logistics, tourism know-how, financial services, and proximity to the U.S. market. It’s a natural fit—one that is currently underdeveloped.
The recent call by Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell for a “Global Africa Commission” underscores this urgency. He
urged stakeholders at the Afreximbank Trade Expo to stop the cycle of empty talk and get to work: building shipping routes, finalizing trade agreements, and boosting knowledge of what each region actually has to offer.
“We will not leave here with another communiqué,” Mitchell continued. “We will leave here with a commitment to act, to build together, to trade together, to succeed together and rise together.” The statement underscored a central theme of the summit — that both Africa and the Caribbean can no longer afford to admire the idea of unity; they must operationalize it.Pilot platforms like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) are already simplifying how cross-border payments work between African countries—and could extend to Caribbean partners. The system removes the need for U.S. dollars in trade between African nations, creating space for sovereign empowerment.
What’s the Hold-Up?
Let’s be blunt: political will, slow bureaucracies, and lack of coordination are stalling real action. Despite a decade of “Africa–Caribbean unity” talk, less than 3% of CARICOM trade currently involves the African continent. That fact continues to undermine these brave speeches and ambitious notions.
Where Caribbean Consumers Fit In
Caribbean consumers—especially the younger, tech-savvy generation—are already looking for affordable, ethical, and culturally relevant goods. African markets offer exactly that. Redirecting even a fraction of spending toward African-made clothing, beauty products, tech tools, or agro-processed foods could start a real trade revolution.
Bottom Line
If the political leaders won’t build the bridge fast enough, maybe Caribbean consumers will. The money is there. The interest is rising. Now it’s time to turn the “Global Africa” vision into a real economic shift—one shopping cart at a time.
