News
Over 2000 skipped 2021 Elections; Can new campaigns end Voter Apathy?
Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
Turks and Caicos, January 10, 2025 – There are 772 more people who have the power to help determine the next government of the Turks and Caicos Islands; which means there are 9,353 voters who can participate in the February 7, 2025 General Elections.
A nine percent increase which is commendable, but it still misses that long-standing, elusive target of getting to at least 10,000 registered electors.
There is considered debate around the level of apathy amongst voters in the TCI.
This unenthusiastic posture toward the political landscape of the Turks and Caicos became a significant topic of discussion and ultimately a
deciding factor in the General Elections of 2021 where voter turnout sunk to under 77%.
It meant 2,121 people did not cast a vote or 25% of voters stayed away from the polls.
In the upcoming race, which has not only expanded the list of candidates from 15 to 19, giving each elector the power to decide upon ten members of the House of Assembly, there is a longer term for governance, now extended to five years.
In statistics published by the TCIG Elections Department, the figures from the previous election can be analysed and the Elector’s List for the upcoming poll can be accessed. The information is interesting and exposes that key in the February 7 run off, is voter turnout. The looming question being, can parties get people out to the polls?
We sized up each district for you.
For Electoral District 1 or Grand Turk North, voters dropped by four to 750.
For Electoral District 2 or Grand Turk South, voters dropped by 32, with 956 now on the register.
For Electoral District 3 or South Caicos, there has also been a dip with seven less voters; a total of 359.
For Electoral District 4 or North and Middle Caicos there has been a boost of 11 electors to 609.
For Electoral District 5 or Leeward and Long Bay, there are 50 more voters at 941 registered.
For Electoral District 6 or The Bight, a hefty 122 more voters took the list to 1,043 people.
For Electoral District 7 or Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hill, voters are up to 1,430 which is a hike of 125.
For Electoral District 8 or Blue Hills, the register has 81 more electors or 1,081 voters to decide the seat.
For Electoral District 9 or Five Cays & Chalk Sound, the boom in voters is biggest at 206 more for 1,345.
For Electoral District 10 or Wheeland, another spike with 142 added; 839 people eligible to cast a ballot.
As notices from the Elections Department, Integrity Commission and political parties begin to populate advertising and social media spaces, it is clear that the country’s main political rivals are in a fierce fight in the countdown to February 7.
Nomination Day is next Tuesday January 14. On that day, candidates will become official, political party endorsements secure and perhaps independents will step forward in an offer to serve in the nation’s parliament.
In February 2021, the Progressive National Party led by Washington Misick decimated the competition, taking all but one electoral district, capturing all five All Island seats.
Four years earlier, the Peoples’ Democratic Movement also enjoyed a landslide victory when voters rejected the team in yellow in order to elect the country’s first woman premier.
Analysts of the statistics and trends of Turks and Caicos general elections through the years can often surmise one thing; there is a high chance for voters to swing, sit out or slay the party of their choosing in the ballot booth.
If the last general election results are any indicator, the turnout exposed an electorate which was unenthusiastic about the vote. In all but two constituencies, the number of electors opting not to vote had the power to shift the popularity and possibly alter the election outcome.
Otis Morris, the winner for the PNP in ED1 had 123 more votes than his PDM contender but 153 people sat out of the vote. Overall voter participation, according to the Elections Department, was 79.71%.
Edwin Astwood, the lone PDM winner in ED2 had 117 more votes than his PNP challenger, but 213 people were a no-show at the polls. Voter participation was 76.95%.
South Caicos gave 81 more votes to John Malcolm of the PNP, one of the only races where even if all of the absent voters were to decide on his competition, the PNP would have still emerged victorious. The official results reflected that fifty-three electors did not vote for a turn out of 84.94%, one of the highest that day.
North and Middle Caicos gave 73 more votes to the incumbent, Arlington Musgrove. Eighty-five voters did not cast any ballot according to the final results. It was the constituency with the highest voter turnout at 85.79%.
Another victory which would have remained unchanged, even if all of the voters went with the PDM was in Leeward and Long Bay where three-time MP, Akierra Missick got 211 more votes and 182 did not show up at the polls in that district. Turn out in ED5 was 79.57%.
Electoral District 6, The Bight chose Matthew Stubbs, who secured 68 more votes than his PDM challenger. But a whopping 255 people did not show up to cast votes. One of the lower voter turnouts for the Turks and Caicos on February 19, 2021 at 72.31%.
ED7 is Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill, the largest constituency by voter count. It was also a close race with very low voter turnout. Only 68.81% of voters came out which means 407 voters stayed away from the polls. The PNP’s Samuel Been won the district over the incumbent by 76 votes.
Blue Hills was also a loss for the PDM party, but there were only 15 votes that separated the candidates when Randy Howell was declared the winner. Still, when you consider voter turnout was dismal, 65.1% and the lowest in the islands, you begin to see how 349 voters missing the election could have made a difference in this race.
A big battle was for Five Cays and Chalk Sound. It was also a significant upset with the PNP’s Rachel Taylor securing 151 more votes when 76.29% of the electors turned out. A staggering 270 people decided not to participate in the ED9 run off.
The TCI’s tenth constituency is Wheeland, where counting went into the wee hours of the morning. Three votes separated the winner from the incumbent. The PNP pulled off an upset by getting three more votes than the PDM’s candidate. Voter turnout was at 77.91% and 154 people opted not to cast a ballot.
The General Election of 2021 bears a striking contrast to years previous in the Turks and Caicos, as elections before enjoyed far more robust participation of the Electorate, which is crucial in a nation where the people able to cast a vote make up only 20% of the population. It is true, these 9,353 registered voters make the choice with which some 37,000 others have to live.
When British Direct Rule ended and elections were called in November 2012, voters came out in strong numbers with nearly 88% voter turnout recorded for a Rufus Ewing-led PNP victory by one seat.
In 2016, when the PDM led by Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson celebrated a landslide victory with 10 seats of 15, there was a drop in voters, however the 80% participation remained impressive to many.
It is hoped that political parties can energize their bases or perhaps attract new support as they have already begun political rallies around the islands. While on many fronts it appears voter apathy is higher than ever, there is a possibility for a strong pitch which presents a compelling vision for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Everyone we’ve spoken to, says somebody’s gotta bring it. So we return to the question, with which we started, can either of these parties or an independent candidate, inspire, ignite or rekindle a fire so hot that it gets voters from the sidelines to the poll lines come next month.
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos has refreshed the grounds of Enid Capron Primary School in Five Cays, Providenciales, ahead of the new school year, with a landscaping team from the resort, pruning and cutting back overgrown branches to give the campus a cleaner, safer look.
The project focused on the school’s exterior plantings, where tangled growth had begun to encroach on walkways and outdoor learning
areas. The team spent time trimming hedges, thinning dense shrubs and removing deadwood to improve sightlines and airflow around the buildings.
Assistant Landscaping Manager, Kemar Jones said the work at Enid Capron is a regular priority for the department, which views community giving as a core part of its mandate. He noted that supporting local schools, particularly through hands-on environmental work, has long been a focus area for his team.
Jones, said the effort reflects the group’s wider commitment to the islands. “As a team, our goal is to give back to our communities and especially providing support for the environment and education,” Jones noted. “The team is always ready to share our skills with making the school environment more comfortable for our students and teachers.”
General Manager Deryk Meany framed the project as part of Beaches’ broader approach to working alongside the community beyond the resort gates. “At Beaches Turks and Caicos, we operate as a team not only within the confines of the resort but also with our communities,” Meany added. “Being able to share our varied skills is always our main focus. Providing a comfortable learning environment allows for a greater relationship with our educational collaborators.”
He added that the resort seeks opportunities to support range of school-based initiatives, from environmental and leadership clubs to creative programmes.
Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture Hon. Rachel Taylor described the landscaping mission as a continuation of a long-
standing relationship between the Ministry and Beaches Turks and Caicos. “This mission from our major private sector supporter, Beaches Turks and Caicos is a long standing activity,” Taylor said. “At Enid Capron Primary School, we are treated as family. Once we reach out to the resort, they have always responded in a positive way.”
Hon. Taylor said the support is particularly valuable in the areas of education and community development, where consistent private-sector engagement can amplify government efforts.
Nelene Swann, vice principal at Enid Capron Primary welcomed the refreshed grounds as a boost to morale before classes resume. “This is what true collaboration looks like,” she noted. “This is more than a facelift for the school. The team from Beaches Turks and Caicos has shown true commitment in adding to this learning environment for our students and teachers.”
She said the improved landscaping contributes to a more comfortable and inviting campus for all stakeholders. “This is a good way to start the new school year. This facelift will certainly make the facilities here at the school more appealing to our students, teachers and parents.
News
Beaches Turks & Caicos strengthens year-round commitment with local craft vendors and transport operators
Turks and Caicos Islands, October 8, 2026 – Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort is deepening its long-standing collaboration with local
craft vendors and transport operators, maintaining active support even during the off-peak season to sustain livelihoods and strengthen the islands’ tourism ecosystem.
Local entrepreneurs say the resort’s commitment is felt throughout the year, with particular emphasis on keeping businesses vibrant when visitor numbers dip. Veteran craft vendor Cassandra Gardiner highlighted the consistency that has become a hallmark of the association. “We are satisfied with the consistency shown by the resort and the local entrepreneurs,” Gardiner said. “During the slower season, they have taken the time to keep the entrepreneurial team active with customer service and marketing training workshops.”
The workshops, delivered in collaboration with the Sandals Foundation and the Sandals Corporate University, focus on practical skills such as product display, guest engagement and digital marketing-tools that help artisans convert resort traffic into steady sales even outside peak periods. The Cultural Marketplace, located adjacent to the property, continues to serve as a primary platform, while vendors are welcomed onto the resort grounds on scheduled days to reach a wider audience.
For local taxi associations, the resort’s backing translates into reliable business and sponsorship for community activities. Loftan Ellis, a veteran transport operator, described the support as “magical,” noting that Beaches is often the first to confirm sponsorship for association events and planned activities. “The consistency in business from Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort is one of the main reasons for us to maintain our livelihood while helping to build our primary industry, tourism,” Ellis added.
This alignment between resort operations and local transport providers helps stabilize income during quieter months, ensuring that drivers
and small operators can remain active participants in the destination’s tourism value chain.
General Manager Deryk Meany framed this collaboration as central to the resort’s corporate social responsibility and philanthropic mission. “We remain committed to providing support to our environment and the communities that we serve,” Meany said.
He emphasised that growth at the property is intended to create shared opportunity. “As we grow, we will create greater opportunities for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands to grow alongside us,” Meany said.
By maintaining training, market access and sponsorship across the calendar, the resort is helping to build resilience in a sector vulnerable to seasonality. For craft vendors and transport operators alike, this local support offers more than intermittent income; it provides a structured pathway to professionalise services, expand customer reach and contribute to a more diversified and sustainable local tourism economy.
Bahamas News
Two Months On, The Bahamas Academy of Sciences Turns Fifty Years of Research into Action
First peer-reviewed paper published, policy brief delivered to Minister Lightbourne, a seat at Climate Week, and a growing public audience for Bahamian science
NASSAU, The Bahamas, 7 October 2026 — Two months after putting fifty years of research on The Bahamas “on the record” at its first public event in July, The Bahamas Academy of Sciences (BAS) has been turning that evidence into action.
Since July, the Academy has published its first peer-reviewed paper, presented its findings to Government through a policy brief, taken
Bahamian science to Climate Week in Nassau and New York, and launched a growing public conversation in which Bahamians can ask scientists questions and get answers. The Academy’s new policy brief, “Prioritising National Research Needs for The Bahamas,” is attached to this release.
“In July we said the record was open. Since then, we have been working to put it to use,” said BAS President Dr. Krista Sherman. “Fifty years of research revealed where The Bahamas is strong and where the gaps are: water, food, energy, long-term monitoring. Our job as the national academy is to share that evidence with the decision-makers and the public they serve, and to build the Bahamian research capacity to fill those gaps.”
THE RECORD, NOW PEER-REVIEWED AND PUBLIC
The Academy’s first publication, “Fifty Years of Research in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas: A Quantitative Thematic Analysis of Scholarly Output,” is now published in the international journal Gulf and Caribbean Research. Led by Dr. Amina Moss (University of Stirling) with BAS members Dr.
Krista Sherman, Dr. Williamson Gustave, Dr. Kathleen Sullivan Sealey, Dr. Charlotte Dunn, Dr. Nicola Smith, Lindy Knowles and Dr. Christy Gibson, the study analyses 12,113 scholarly records published about The Bahamas between 1975 and 2025.
It shows a rich scientific legacy, particularly in geology, fisheries, oceanography and conservation, while also highlighting persistent gaps in areas of direct national importance: groundwater resources, food systems, renewable energy, social-ecological governance and locally led, long-term monitoring. The full paper is free to read at https://doi.org/10.18785/gcr.3701.15.
FROM THE RECORD TO POLICY
Building on this research, BAS has prepared a policy brief, “Prioritising National Research Needs for The Bahamas,” which translates the findings into a set of ten strategic priorities.
The policy brief calls for greater investment in locally led, policy-aligned and climate-ready research, including:
- a national research agenda aligned with Vision 2040;
- stronger local scientific capacity, laboratories and field stations;
- rebuilt long-term monitoring of reefs, fisheries, coasts and mangroves;
- targeted research on groundwater, food systems and renewable energy;
- a national environmental and health data repository; and public health research on the risks facing small island states.
In September, Dr. Sherman presented the brief to the Hon. Zane Lightbourne, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, during a courtesy call. The visit is the first in a series of introductory meetings with Government ministries over the coming months. Through these meetings, the Academy will introduce its work and explore opportunities for collaboration in science, the environment, sustainability, conservation and climate resilience. The policy brief also maps research priorities to relevant national legislation and policies, from the Environmental Planning and Protection Act to the National Health Strategy 2026–2030.
BAHAMIAN SCIENCE AT CLIMATE WEEK, FROM NASSAU TO NEW YORK
BAS also brought Bahamian scientific expertise to Climate Week 2026.
On Monday, 21 September, BAS Board member Dr. Kathleen Sullivan Sealey, Professor Emerita at the University of Miami, presented “Coasts and Climate Change” at the opening day of Climate Week in The Bahamas, hosted by the Baha Mar Resort Foundation at ECCHO, under the theme “At the Edge of the Water.” Dr. Sullivan Sealey explained why The Bahamas’ low-lying carbonate islands face growing risk from sea-level rise and storms, and how historical losses of coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves and dunes have weakened the islands’ natural defences. More importantly, she highlighted actions communities can take to reduce these risks.
During Climate Week, the Academy also released a science statement, “Climate Change and Ocean Warming Impacts on The Bahamas: What Does the Science Tell Us?”, a synthesis of the environmental, ecological, social and economic impacts facing the archipelago.
In New York, BAS Vice President Dr. Adelle Thomas, Vice-Chair of Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), brought the realities of vulnerable small island states to Climate Week NYC.
A GROWING PUBLIC AUDIENCE FOR BAHAMIAN SCIENCE
The Academy’s public campaign, 242 #ForTheRecord, has also been building a presence across its five platforms since launching in mid-July. Its most successful format has been the simplest: Bahamians ask a question and a BAS scientist answers it. So far, the “You Ask/Science Responds” series has tackled questions on how climate change will affect Bahamian farming (Dr. Williamson Gustave) and the science of blue holes (Dr. Krista Sherman). An upcoming episode will examine the effects of high temperatures on public health. Question-led content is reaching roughly twice the audience of the Academy’s institutional posts. During its first month, the campaign generated more than 18,500 views and over 200 shares across its platforms.
To extend the conversations to more Bahamians, beyond the traditional science-curious audiences,
BAS has also formalised collaborations with two local content creators, Kaché Knowles (“I is a Bahamian Bey”) and Stephen Hanna (“Schin Nguyen”). Their first joint pieces will appear before the campaign closes on 30 November.
WHAT COMES NEXT
For BAS, putting the record to work is only the beginning. Over the coming months, the Academy will:
- continue introductory meetings with Government ministries and agencies;
- host its Future Scientists classroom event with Bahamian students in early November;
- launch its YouTube channel with a video-podcast series on Bahamian scientists in November;
- begin work on its second peer-reviewed publication, “A Horizon Scan on Emerging Environmental Issues in The Bahamas Over the Next Decade”; and
- offer “Introduction to Statistics using Excel,” a short, practical course in early 2027 that will give early-career scientists and resource managers in The Bahamas hands-on skills in organising, analysing and summarising their own data.
“Research is most valuable when it can be used,” said Dr. Sherman. “The Bahamas has an extraordinary scientific record. Now we need to ensure that record informs the questions we ask, the decisions we make, and the science we build here at home.”
See BAS Climate Statement and BAS Policy Briefing 50 Years of Bahamian Research here: BAS Climate Statement,
BAS Policy Briefing_50 Years of Bahamian Research
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Header: BAS President Dr. Krista Sherman met the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources and his team on 17 September 2026. L–R: Mr. David Davis, Permanent Secretary; Mr. Ricardo Deveaux, Acting Under Secretary; The Hon. S. Obie Roberts, Parliamentary Secretary; Dr. Krista Sherman, BAS President; The Hon. Zane Lightbourne, Minister; Dr. Rhianna Neely-Murphy, Director, Department of Environmental Planning and Protection; Ms. Danielle Hanek, Acting Director, Forestry Unit.
Credit: Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
Insert: Kathleen Sullivan Sealey, BAS Board member, presents the Academy’s science statement at Climate Week in The Bahamas, ECCHO, 21 September 2026.
Credit: Amaeleo Carey.
PRESS RELEASE: BAS
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