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.
By Deandrea Hamilton
June 9, 2026 – The world has just four years left to deliver on one of its most ambitious environmental commitments: protecting 30 percent of the planet’s oceans by 2030.
On World Oceans Day 2026, environmental organizations, governments and international leaders are shifting the conversation away from
awareness and toward action, urging countries to turn decades of promises into measurable protection for marine ecosystems.
The theme for this year’s observance — “Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet” — is a direct challenge to governments to move beyond declarations and establish meaningful protections for ocean habitats, fisheries and biodiversity.
The urgency is especially relevant in the Caribbean, where economies, jobs and entire communities depend on healthy oceans.
From tourism and fishing to transportation and climate resilience, the sea is the region’s most valuable natural resource.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that humanity can no longer treat the ocean as limitless.
“In these turbulent times, the ocean reminds us that we are bound together,” Guterres said. “But the ocean is in deep trouble.”
The global push follows the recent ratification of the High Seas Treaty, designed to protect marine biodiversity beyond national waters. Together with the international 30×30 target, the agreement represents one of the largest conservation efforts ever attempted.
Closer to home, Caribbean nations are also advancing ocean protection initiatives.
CARICOM says it is developing a regional Ocean Policy aimed at strengthening marine governance and supporting sustainable blue economies.
In the Turks and Caicos Islands, World Oceans Day coincides with the tenth anniversary of the Blue Belt Programme, which has focused on
protecting marine resources while supporting sustainable use of the Territory’s waters.
In The Bahamas, conservation advocates are encouraging citizens to reconnect with the ocean and recognize its value not only as a source of recreation, but as the foundation of national prosperity.
Yet conservationists say government action alone will not be enough.
Protecting the ocean begins with everyday decisions: reducing pollution, respecting marine habitats, supporting sustainable fishing practices, participating in clean-up efforts and holding leaders accountable for environmental commitments.
The message of World Oceans Day 2026 is straightforward.
The promises have been made.
The treaties have been signed.
The targets have been announced.
Now comes the hard part: protecting the ocean before time runs out.
Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.
By Deandrea Hamilton
For more than five decades, Peabo Bryson’s unmistakable voice provided the soundtrack to love stories around the world.
The two-time Grammy Award winner, affectionately regarded by many as R&B’s “Duet King,” died on June 2 at the age of 75, days after
suffering a stroke. Family members said he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
While younger audiences may remember him as the voice behind Disney classics Beauty and the Beast and A Whole New World, Bryson’s legacy was built long before Hollywood came calling.
Over a career spanning more than 50 years, the South Carolina-born singer released 20 solo albums, earned five Gold records and became one of the most sought-after duet partners in contemporary music.
Few artists mastered the art of collaboration as effortlessly as Bryson.
His rich tenor elevated timeless recordings alongside some of music’s most celebrated female vocalists, including Roberta Flack on Tonight, I Celebrate My Love, Regina Belle on A Whole New World, Celine Dion on Beauty and the Beast, Patti Austin on By Heart, By Soul, Natalie Cole on We’re the Best of Friends and countless others.
Yet he was equally successful as a solo performer.
Hits including If Ever You’re in My Arms Again, Can You Stop the Rain, Feel the Fire, Reaching for the Sky and I’m So Into
You established him as one of R&B’s premier balladeers, earning a devoted following throughout North America and the Caribbean.
Bryson’s greatest commercial success came in the 1990s when Disney selected him to perform two animated-film love songs that became global sensations. Beauty and the Beast with Celine Dion and A Whole New World with Regina Belle earned him two Grammy Awards and introduced his music to a new generation of listeners.
But for many longtime fans, it was the romance, warmth and sincerity of his earlier recordings that defined his greatness.
In an era crowded with powerful voices, Peabo Bryson stood apart by making every duet feel personal and every love song believable.
His voice may be gone, but the music remains — a catalogue filled with timeless ballads, unforgettable partnerships and memories that continue to resonate across generations.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
This angle is stronger than a standard obituary because it focuses on what made Peabo unique. There have been great singers, great balladeers and great hitmakers. There was really only one “Duet King.”
Government Advances Policy Aimed at Consumer Protection and Higher Business Standards
By Deandrea Hamilton
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — Efforts to improve product quality, strengthen consumer protections and raise business standards across the Turks and Caicos Islands are moving into a new phase as government advances implementation of its National Quality Policy.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Fair Competition announced that a team of consultants spent a week in the Turks and Caicos
Islands meeting with key public and private sector stakeholders as part of the policy’s implementation process.
Approved by Cabinet in October 2024, the National Quality Policy is designed to establish a national quality infrastructure that supports trade, protects consumers and improves the competitiveness of local businesses.
For consumers, the long-term goal is straightforward: greater confidence that products and services meet accepted standards for quality, safety and reliability.
For businesses, the initiative aims to encourage stronger quality management systems that can improve efficiency, build customer trust and create opportunities for expansion into regional and international markets.
During the May 25 to 29 mission, consultants met with representatives from the National Quality Council, Pelican Energy TCI, the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority, the TCI Government Laboratory, the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association and Turks Head Brewery.
According to the Department, the consultations were intended to assess existing quality-related systems, identify gaps and gather recommendations that will help shape the Territory’s national quality infrastructure.
“The policy serves as a strategic framework for establishing a national quality infrastructure in the Turks and Caicos Islands, aimed at improving quality standards, supporting trade, protecting consumers, and enhancing economic competitiveness,” the Department said in a
statement.
Officials explained that stakeholder feedback will help determine what systems, standards and programmes are needed to strengthen quality assurance across various sectors of the economy.
The Department said the information gathered will guide the next stage of implementation and help ensure the policy delivers meaningful benefits throughout the Islands.
Among the initiatives expected to emerge from the process are a Quality Certification Programme and a series of educational workshops designed to help businesses understand and adopt quality standards.
A second round of stakeholder consultations is scheduled for June, allowing government and industry representatives to continue discussions and further assess priority areas identified during the initial mission.
Officials say the ultimate objective is to build a culture of quality that benefits consumers, businesses and the wider economy by encouraging higher standards, greater accountability and improved competitiveness.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
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