News
Turks and Caicos Boys U-17 National Team Display Unyielding Determination in Concacaf Qualifiers
Providenciales
Monday, February 17, 2025
The Turks and Caicos Islands Boy’s Under 17 National Football Team took to the pitch for the 2025 Concacaf Qualifiers, battling it out for a shot at the 2025 U17 FIFA World Cup. The team found themselves in Group A, squaring off against Canada, Curacao, Bermuda, and
Anguilla in a whirlwind of four nail-biting matches from February 7th to 13th. In the end, the team snagged one glorious win but faced three tough losses. What a rollercoaster of a tournament!
Tournament Highlights:
February 7, 2025: Turks and Caicos faced Anguilla in a match that showcased the team’s strategic play and superior possession skills, culminating in a commendable 3-0 victory.
Goal Details:
- In less than 90 seconds, a precisely executed corner kick by Maddox-Zaidan Jones found Wepsdel Saintilus in the 18, resulting in a spectacular header that opened the scoring.
- Maddox-Zaidan Jones demonstrated exceptional dribbling through the center of the defense before delivering a pinpoint pass to Schuyler Selver, who smoothly finished by tapping the ball into the bottom right corner in the 24th minute.
- The third goal came in the 36th minute when midfielder Idelin Gardiner delivered a well-placed header to Schuyler Selver, who then
struck a powerful shot into the top corner of the net.
February 9th, 2025: Turks and Caicos vs. Canada. The team encountered a formidable challenge in this match. Despite entering the game with determination and a well-defined strategy, Canada ultimately proved to be the superior team, demonstrating exceptional coordination and precision on the field. Turks and Caicos persevered until the final whistle. The match concluded with a 6-0 loss, which will serve as a valuable learning experience for our future development.
February 11, 2025: the match between Curacao and Turks and Caicos showcased a renewed and confident team that displayed promising skills on the field. However, despite their efforts, they were unable to score. Ultimately, Curacao secured victory with a final score of 2-0.
February 13th, 2025: In the final match, Turks and Caicos faced a formidable opponent in Bermuda, culminating in a challenging test of endurance that ended in a 0-5 loss.
Head Coach Omar Edwards expressed his pride in the team’s performance, stating, “I reflect on the efforts of these talented players, whose determination and resilience were evident until the very end. Although we faced significant challenges, we will undoubtedly learn and grow
from this experience. The losses have been difficult, and there is much work ahead; nonetheless, we are committed to applying the lessons we’ve learned as we prepare to return home and enhance the team’s competitiveness in future competitions. I extend my gratitude to the dedicated players, staff, supporters, and parents for their unwavering support.”
The Turks and Caicos Football Association remains optimistic and dedicated to the team’s development. The spirit and determination demonstrated by the players in the face of adversity signal great promise for the future. The team returns to the Turks and Caicos Islands with a renewed commitment to training and improving both individually and collectively in preparation for upcoming challenging tournaments.
The Bahamas, August 27, 2026 – The Royal Bahamas Police Force wishes to inform members of the public that several individuals are scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 27th August 2026, at 12:00 noon.
The individuals and charges are as follows:
An 18-year-old female is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
Three (3) counts of Murder
Three (3) counts of Attempted Murder
Three (3) counts of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life
Three (3) counts of Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm
Two (2) counts of Possession of Ammunition
Armed Robbery
Abetment to Armed Robbery
Stealing
Receiving
The charges stem from three separate shooting incidents and an armed robbery that occurred on Friday, 21st August 2026, and Saturday, 22nd August 2026.
The first shooting occurred in the area of Soldier Road and Baillou Hill Road, resulting in the death of a 51-year-old male.
The second shooting occurred in the area of Joe Farrington Road, resulting in the death of a 52-year-old male.
The third shooting occurred in the area of Gladstone Road, resulting in the death of a 36-year-old male.
The armed robbery occurred at a business establishment in the area of Carmichael Road and Baillou Hill Road.
A 21-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on one charge of:
- Murder
The charge stems from a shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, in the area of Samson Street, Nassau Village, which resulted in the death of a 28-year-old male.
A 32-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
- Murder
- Attempted Murder
These charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday, 24th December 2025, in the area of Graham Drive, Yellow Elder, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old male.
RBPF, PACD
by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — In a country where government press conferences are virtually non-existent, ministers are often difficult for
journalists to access and regular broadcast television news has disappeared, TCI Innovation, Technology and Energy Minister E. Jay Saunders has challenged Caribbean media to become “impossible to ignore.”
Speaking at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union gathering, Saunders argued that the Caribbean does not have a relevance problem but a “discoverability and positioning problem.”
Discoverability is precisely the issue in Saunders’ home country. Even Government’s own attempts at video news broadcasting have struggled against the realities of consistently producing a daily, weekly or even monthly newscast.
The difficulties confronting TCI media extend well beyond algorithms: limited advertising revenue, underfunding, shortages of trained professionals and insufficient human capacity leave newsrooms struggling for both staff and stamina.
Then there is the reality of operating in one of the region’s smallest societies. Politicians, journalists, advertisers, businesses and the subjects of stories often exist within the same tight economic and social circles. A controversial report that might create a ripple elsewhere can produce a tsunami in TCI, intensifying concerns among journalists about commercial and professional victimisation.
Saunders believes AI can help.
He urged Caribbean media to use the technology to transform one original story into television, radio, web, podcast, social and translated content without multiplying newsroom workload.
He also wants regional journalism structured so AI systems can find, understand and trust Caribbean sources, moving media beyond traditional SEO into Answer Engine Optimisation.
His ultimate message was emphatic: “Use AI not to make Caribbean media more artificial — but to make Caribbean voices more visible.”
For Turks and Caicos media, however, becoming visible may require more than technology. It requires an environment in which journalism can survive.
That last sentence is where I think we land the plane. It acknowledges that EJ actually has some us
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
