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PAROLE BOARD CHAIR and MEMBERS PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS 12TH FEBURARY 2025

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PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE Ministry of Public Safety & Utilities

 

 

Expression of Interest

OVERVIEW: The Parole Board, which is an independent body, plays a crucial role in the criminal justice system, overseeing the process by which incarcerated individuals are evaluated for potential release back into society. This body is responsible for making informed decisions on parole applications, ensuring that each case is considered with the utmost care, balancing public safety, the interests of justice, and the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders. Serving on the Parole Board requires a deep commitment to fairness, integrity, and the community’s well-being.

We are currently seeking expressions of interest for the positions of Parole Board Chair and Members.

Parole Board Chair

The Chair leads the Parole Board, guiding its members in the assessment of parole applications and ensuring that all decisions are made based on a comprehensive evaluation of each case. This leadership role involves coordinating board activities, setting agendas, and ensuring that deliberations are thorough and impartial. The Chairman also represents the board in communications with government officials, community organizations, and the public, articulating the board’s decisions and policies.

Applicants for the Chairman position should possess a strong background in one of the following areas: law, criminal justice, social work, or a related field. Experience in leadership, strategic decision-making, and a demonstrated commitment to public service are essential. The ideal candidate will have exceptional communication skills, the ability to foster a collaborative and respectful environment, and the capacity to handle complex and sensitive situations with discretion and empathy.

Parole Board Members

In this role, you will be required to analyze complex information, including offender backgrounds, rehabilitation progress, and potential risks. You will participate in panel discussions and hearings, where you will work collaboratively with other board members to evaluate cases and reach decisions. Your decisions will have a significant impact on both the individuals seeking parole and the community at large, so it is crucial that you approach each case with fairness, integrity, and a commitment to justice.

Effective communication and interpersonal skills are essential for this role. Additionally, you will be expected to adhere to high standards of corporate and personal integrity, demonstrating a strong commitment to serving the public and upholding principles of equality and diversity. Overall, as a Parole Board Member, you will play an important part in ensuring that the parole system operates fairly and effectively, contributing to the rehabilitation of offenders and the safety and well-being of the community.

This is an opportunity to contribute significantly to the criminal justice system and positively impact the lives of individuals and the community. If you have the qualifications and the passion to lead a critical institution like the Parole Board, we invite you to submit your expression of interest. Join us in this vital work of ensuring justice, promoting rehabilitation, and enhancing public safety.

ROLE DESCRIPTION:

  • Lead and manage the parole board, ensuring effective performance of duties.
  • Guide the board in making unbiased, well-informed decisions on parole applications.
  • Develop and set agendas for board meetings, and ensuring timely and organized addressing of all necessary cases and issues.
  • Conduct thorough reviews of parole applications. Analyze prisoner’s backgrounds, rehabilitation efforts, and potential risks to ensure all relevant information is considered.
  • Apply knowledge and judgement to make fair decisions based on evidence to decide whether a prisoner should be safely released into the community. This includes setting appropriate license conditions for those who are granted release and, in relevant cases, determining whether to recommend the transfer of a prisoner to open conditions.
  • Be proactive to identify and resolve issues in all allocated cases at the earliest opportunity, applying the current relevant ordnance, procedure and guidance.
  • Assess parole cases on referral to conclude on the papers or set directions for effective case management of those to be considered at an oral hearing.
  • Actively participate in oral hearings by ensuring that all areas of risk are thoroughly identified and addressed; lead a comprehensive discussion of the case to accurately weigh the evidence; Collaborate with other panel members to evaluate the available evidence and provide detailed written explanations for the panel’s decisions or recommendations in each case.
  • Keep up to date with current law, policies, procedures, and new developments regarding parole and offender management.
  • Be an effective ambassador whenever representing the Parole Board.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

Candidates must evidence all of the following:

  1. Proven ability to make sound judgments and decisions independently, using evidence-based methods.
  2. Skill in assimilating and clarifying complex evidence from multiple sources.
  3. Competence in weighing facts and evidence critically.
  4. Ability to analyze and evaluate large volumes of complex information.
  5. Capability to identify key issues within tight deadlines and work independently.
  6. Proficiency in condensing complex and potentially conflicting information into accessible, legally justified documents.
  7. Experience in collaborating with colleagues to draft and review reports.
  8. Ability to create well-structured written accounts that accurately document, analyze, and summarize evidence in support of decisions or recommendations.
  9. Clear, succinct, and accessible writing style.
  10. Strong attention to detail.
  11. Ability to work collaboratively to produce written reasons that accurately reflect the Board’s decision or recommendation.
  12. Demonstrable experience in chairing roles, whether from judicial, tribunal, or equivalent appointments, employment, or other relevant positions.
  13. Strong ability to communicate clearly and persuasively, and capable of challenging opinions constructively, working collaboratively, and resolving differences to reach sound decisions.
  14. Proven high standards of corporate and personal integrity and conduct with a strong commitment to serving the public.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA:

  • Experience in risk assessment or public protection.

All Expressons of Interest must be sent to the Ministry of Public Safety amd Utilties in a sealed envelope marked Expression of Interest, Visiting Committee and/or Parole Board.

Alternatively, emails could be sent to the Head of Secretariat, Ms. Shanetta Thompson at ssthompson@gov.tc headed Expressions of Interest on or before March 12, 2025.

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Next U.S. Ambassador?  Walker Pledges Business-Driven Approach as U.S. Looks to Counter China in The Bahamas

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

The Bahamas, September 16, 2025 – For the first time since 2011, the United States is on the cusp of sending an ambassador to The Bahamas — and the nominee, former football star turned entrepreneur Herschel Walker, is promising to bring his business instincts to the diplomatic table.

Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week, Walker underscored that his background in food-service companies and small business leadership has prepared him to think practically about investment. “I know how to run a business, how to create jobs, how to make payroll. Those lessons translate into building relationships and building trust,” Walker said.

Walker, who was nominated by President Trump in December 2024, faced the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 11. As of now, he has not yet been confirmed; his nomination remains under review, pending a committee vote before it can move to the full Senate. If approved, he would become the first U.S. ambassador to The Bahamas since 2011.

For years, U.S. officials have stressed security and counternarcotics cooperation with The Bahamas, including through “Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos.” But in areas like infrastructure, medical care, and long-term investment, Washington has often been absent.

Hospitals and clinics remain under-resourced, and hurricane recovery has been slow in many islands. Chinese state-backed firms, by contrast, have shown up with financing packages and construction deals — a presence that has raised alarms on Capitol Hill.

“Only 50 miles off our shore, The Bahamas is too important for us to ignore,” warned Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders during Walker’s hearing. They called China’s inroads “strategic, not charitable,” suggesting Beijing’s long game is about ports, proximity, and political leverage.

Walker positioned himself as a nontraditional but pragmatic envoy. He argued that his business career, rooted in private sector success, equips him to champion American investment in The Bahamas.

He pledged to:

  • Promote U.S. companies interested in medical and infrastructure projects.
  • Support an environment that encourages American investors to see The Bahamas as more than just a beach destination.
  • Highlight opportunities for partnerships that improve public services, healthcare, and resilience against hurricanes.

“I’ve built businesses. I know what it takes to attract investors and create opportunity. That is exactly what I intend to bring to our relationship with The Bahamas,” Walker said.

The Bahamas is not just a tourist paradise. It’s a frontline state in migration, drug interdiction, and hurricane response. More than six million U.S. visitors travel there annually, making stability and safety a U.S. domestic concern as much as a foreign policy one.

And yet, with the ambassador post vacant for 14 years, the U.S. has often looked detached — opening space for China’s ambitious Belt and Road agenda. The fear is that infrastructure deals signed today could give Beijing leverage in the region tomorrow.                                                                                                                                                                                                                Walker’s confirmation would symbolize a course correction, signaling Washington’s intent to re-engage not only in security but in the economic future of The Bahamas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Not everyone is convinced Herschel Walker is the right man for the job. His nomination revived controversies from his 2022 Senate run, including past allegations, public gaffes, and doubts about whether he has the diplomatic polish the post demands. Some senators and analysts questioned whether celebrity and business experience were enough for a role requiring nuance in foreign policy and geopolitics.

Critics argued that The Bahamas, sitting just 50 miles from Florida and facing intense Chinese interest, deserves a seasoned diplomat rather than a political ally.

Walker confronted those doubts head-on. “People have underestimated me all my life — in academics, athletics, and business,” he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “And I have always proven them wrong, through discipline, determination, and by outworking everyone.”

He admitted he had never served as an ambassador but countered that his career prepared him in other ways: building businesses, managing payrolls, and connecting with people from all walks of life. He framed his business background as a strength, promising to use it to encourage U.S. investment in healthcare, infrastructure, and hurricane resilience projects in The Bahamas.

Rather than sparring with critics, Walker leaned on confidence and persistence: “I know how to build trust and find common ground. That’s what this relationship needs.”

If confirmed, Walker would have to balance his role as diplomat with expectations of being a commercial cheerleader for U.S. firms. His emphasis on entrepreneurship suggests a willingness to push U.S. businesses toward opportunities in healthcare, ports, and post-storm reconstruction — areas where Bahamians say they need the most support.

For Bahamian officials, the question will be whether Washington is prepared to back words with financing. U.S. private sector dollars, paired with aid and development partnerships, could help shift the tide against Chinese influence.

For Walker, the test will be whether his business acumen can translate into diplomatic wins — giving Bahamians alternatives to Beijing, while deepening the U.S. role in the Caribbean.

Analysis: If Walker delivers, this appointment could mark a turning point: a U.S. strategy that recognizes that in the Caribbean, investment is diplomacy.

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Bahamas News

Conflicting Reports as Grand Bahama Awaits Its New Airport: What to Believe?

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

September 16, 2025 – Grand Bahama’s wait for a modern international airport has taken another dramatic turn. Just days after reports surfaced that the $200 million redevelopment had collapsed because partners failed to secure financing, the government is now insisting the project is alive and well — with funding in the “final stages” and construction on the horizon.

Earlier This Week: Airport Deal in Dire Straits

The week began with grim headlines. Deputy Prime Minister and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper confirmed that private partners in the much-heralded consortium had not produced financing. “Regrettably, the funding had not happened,” he admitted, sparking widespread fears the deal had crumbled.

Those admissions triggered a storm of skepticism in Freeport. Back in February, the government had declared the airport deal “finalized,” naming Aerodrome Ltd., Manchester Airport Group, and BHM UK as partners. They promised demolition within 30 days, designs in 45 days, and a new terminal by year’s end. But now, more than four months later, not a single milestone has been delivered.

For residents and business leaders, the collapse narrative confirmed their worst fears: that Grand Bahama was once again being strung along with empty promises. Long-stay tourism — the kind that sustains hotels, restaurants, taxis, and shops — depends on a functioning airport. Without it, the island’s economy remains hobbled.

Today: Government Pushes Back

But late Thursday, the government issued a forceful rebuttal. “The redevelopment of Grand Bahama’s International Airport remains a central priority for this administration and is key to the island’s economic renewal,” the statement read. Officials stressed that they are “in the final stages of securing funding and concluding agreements on airport management.”

The statement went further, clarifying the role of Manchester Airport Group, the UK’s largest airport manager. MAG, it said, was never meant to provide financing but remains a core partner in shaping the airport’s development and management. Bahamian contractors, the government insisted, are part of the team tasked with delivering the facility. “Our focus is on results,” the release concluded. “Grand Bahama will have the airport it needs to grow, attract investment, and strengthen its role as a gateway to The Bahamas.”

Who Should Grand Bahama Believe?

The conflicting narratives — one of a deal in “dire straits,” the other of a project in “final stages” — have left Grand Bahama residents struggling to know what to believe. Is the airport project truly on life support, or is the government simply playing its hand close until funding details are nailed down?

Skeptics point out that this is hardly the first time the airport has been declared a priority only to see little follow-through. Promises in 2023, in February 2025, and again in summer 2025 all failed to produce visible progress. Each missed deadline has chipped away at public trust.

Supporters of the government counter that large infrastructure projects are inherently complex, with legal negotiations and financing arrangements often dragging longer than planned. They argue that the continued involvement of Manchester Airport Group is evidence the project is still credible.

The Bigger Picture

Grand Bahama’s airport troubles are intertwined with the stalled $120 million Grand Lucayan hotel sale, which also remains without visible progress 129 days after it was announced. Business leaders insist both projects must move together if the island is to see real recovery. A luxury resort without a modern airport is as unviable as an airport without hotel rooms to fill.

For now, the people of Grand Bahama are left in limbo. This week they were told the airport deal had failed. Today, they’re being told it’s moving forward. The only certainty is that, nearly a year after the latest round of promises, not a single crane has touched the sky.

As one resident put it: “We don’t need more statements. We need to see bulldozers.”

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U.S. Coast Guard Trains Bahamian Partners in Water Survival Skills

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The Bahamas, September 10, 2025 – Rescue swimmers from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama visited Nassau to train Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) and Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) members in water survival skills as part of Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) earlier this week.

“Training alongside our USCG partners ensures our personnel are best prepared for the unique challenges of joint operations” said Superintendent Wendy Pearson, Commander Drug Enforcement Unit.

The multi-day exercise, centered on the USCG’s Shallow Water Egress Training (SWET), enhanced the safety and preparedness of Bahamian partners who routinely operate aboard USCG helicopters during OPBAT missions. The exercise provided hands-on instruction for 31 participants and strengthened interoperability between U.S. and Bahamian agencies engaged in counter-drug, search and rescue, and maritime security operations throughout the region.

“We were excited and proud to have the opportunity to share our expertise with our Bahamian partners. Not only did RBDF and RBPF perform exceptionally well, they exceeded the standards we set for the event,” said Petty Officer Second Class Cole Johnson, USCG.

OPBAT is a cooperative multi-agency international operation supporting The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands to stop illicit drug smuggling through the region. U.S. Embassy Nassau Chargé d’affaires Kimberly Furnish stated, “Since 1982, OPBAT has worked to stop the flow of illicit narcotics through the Caribbean, destined for the United States or other jurisdictions.  This is international cooperation at its best.”

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