News
TCI Election Department Launches Advance Polling Initiative For Citizens
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – [January 2, 2025] –The Turks and Caicos Elections Department is proud to announce a groundbreaking new initiative to make the voting process more accessible and convenient for key groups in electoral districts. For the first time, Advance Poll is being introduced in the Turks and Caicos Islands and will take place on February 6th- a day ahead of the General Elections.
In a statement, Election Supervisor Lister Dudley Lewis said, “This initiative is part of our mission to ensure that every voter can exercise their democratic right, regardless of their circumstances. By accommodating their unique needs, advance polling seeks to eliminate potential barriers to voting and reinforce the principles of accessibility and equity, empowering every eligible voter to participate in the upcoming TCI Elections with ease and confidence.”
He added, “We encourage all eligible persons to take advantage of this opportunity to make 8their voices heard without the potential challenges of election day.”
Who Can Apply for Advance Polling: The following individuals are eligible to apply for advance voting:
- Senior Citizens: Voters aged 70 years and older.
- Persons with Disabilities or Blindness: Individuals with physical incapacity or blindness who may face challenges voting on Election Day.
- Election Officials and Essential Workers: Elections Officers. Essential workers scheduled to work on Election Day, such as Police Officers, Border Force Officers, and Officers of the Regiment.
- Healthcare Professionals: Doctors, Nurses, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).
- Travelers: Individuals who will be traveling and unable to vote on Election Day.
- Imprisoned Voters: Voters serving a sentence of imprisonment who remain qualified to vote.
- Individuals Under Medical Restrictions: Voters who have tested positive for a communicable disease. Voters placed under quarantine by order of the Chief Medical Officer.
Eligible individuals are encouraged to apply for advance polling using the designated form and follow the outlined preparation steps to ensure a smooth voting experience.
Key Details of Advance Poling :
- Dates and Times:February 6th is Advance Polling day. Polling stations will open from 8am and close at 4pm.
- Polling Locations: Advance polling will take place at designated locations across the Turks and Caicos Islands a list of the Polling locations for Advance Polling will be released closer to the election dates.
How to Prepare for Advance Polling:
If you are a member of any of the groups eligible for advance polling, follow these steps to ensure a smooth voting experience:
- Advance Request to Participate:
You are required to make an application to the Supervisor of Elections using the designated form. This form can be obtained from the Election Department or is attached for your convenience. Ensure that the form is completed and submitted promptly to be included in the advance polling process.
- Verify Your Voter Registration Details:
Confirm that your voter registration details are accurate by contacting the Election Department or checking the official voter register.
- Know the Advance Polling Schedule and Locations:
Familiarize yourself with the advance polling schedule and the designated polling locations to plan your visit during the specified period.
- Bring Valid Identification:
Make sure to bring an acceptable form of photo identification to the polling station.
- Notify for Assistance if Needed:
If you require assistance due to age, disability, or other circumstances, notify the Elections Department in advance to ensure appropriate arrangements are made.
Additionally, take some time to understand the voting process, including how to use the DS 200 Tabulating machine, to avoid any confusion on election day. Being well-prepared will help make your advance polling experience efficient and stress-free.
For additional information regarding advance polling and the use of the Electronic Tabulating System, please contact the Elections Department directly. You can reach the department by
phone at 649-338-2301 or via email at electionsdept@gov.tc. Stay informed by following the department on social media: Facebook and Instagram – @tcielectionsdepartment – for updates, news, and more.
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
NASSAU, Bahamas — More Bahamians are accessing HIV and sexually transmitted infection-related healthcare through National Health Insurance, a trend the NHI Authority says should be viewed positively.
NHIA stressed in an August 6 statement that its 2025 figures measure healthcare utilisation, not newly diagnosed infections. They include beneficiaries screened, treated, monitored or receiving follow-up care, including people diagnosed previously.
“Increased utilisation of these services should be viewed as a positive development,” NHIA said.
The Authority pointed to “greater enrolment and use of NHI, improved access to screening and testing, continued treatment and monitoring of existing conditions, and increased willingness to seek medical care.”
The development comes amid a mixed three-year HIV picture. New diagnoses rose from 130 in 2023 to 156 in 2024, before declining to 142 in 2025.
NHIA said increased utilisation demonstrates that more beneficiaries are accessing needed healthcare and actively managing their health, reinforcing the importance of screening, early diagnosis and continued treatment.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Americas has recorded 47,459 confirmed measles cases and 44 deaths in 2026, the region’s highest case count in 22 years, prompting the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to urge stronger vaccination, surveillance and rapid outbreak response.
As of July 18, cases were already more than triple the 15,011 recorded during all of 2025. Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Peru
account for 95% of confirmed cases. Guatemala leads with 30,371 cases and 26 deaths, followed by Mexico with 12,255 cases and 17 deaths.
PAHO classifies the regional public health risk as very high, citing active outbreaks, immunity gaps, international travel and populations with inadequate vaccination coverage.
The organization says prevention starts with vaccination. Countries are being urged to achieve and maintain at least 95% coverage with two doses of measles-containing vaccine, particularly protecting children and under-vaccinated communities.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash.
PAHO is urging health authorities to detect suspected cases early and respond rapidly to stop transmission. Unvaccinated and under-vaccinated people, young children and communities with limited healthcare access face increased risk of severe illness and death.
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