Connect with us

News

NHIB PLACED UNDER EXAMINATION, MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES REMOVES NHIB BOARD AND CEO AND BEGINS IMPLEMENTATION OF STABLIZATION AND RESCUE PLAN

Published

on

PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

 

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 7th March 2025 – Services (MOHHS) announces the immediate placement of the National Health Insurance Board into examination in accordance with section 39 of the Public Finance Management Ordinance and removes of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This action is due to Governor on the advice of the Cabinet, being satisfied on reasonable grounds that the financial viability of the NHIB is at risk or poses systemic risks to the public finances.

The decision to take this necessary action follows a comprehensive review of the NHIB’s financial operations, which revealed serious concerns about the financial viability of the NHIB and the need to ensure proper financial management and systems are restored to stabilize the NHIB so that it can carry out its functions in keeping with its statutory responsibilities.

The National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) plays a vital role in ensuring access to essential healthcare services for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through its management of the National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP), the NHIB provides coverage for medical treatments, local and overseas referrals, and other critical healthcare interventions that improve the quality of life for citizens and residents.

Sound financial management and transparency are the cornerstones of any public institution, particularly one as crucial as the NHIB. Proper oversight ensures that public funds are used efficiently, services are delivered equitably, and the trust of the people is maintained. The appointment of a well-established and experienced firm to conduct the review and make recommendations on how to improve the sustainability of the organization.

What is Examination – Examination is a statutory process for statutory bodies which is similar to the process referred to as Company Administration in respect of a private company, whereby an Insolvency Practitioner is appointed as Administrator to restructure a private company, with the aim of either turning it into a profitable company to preserve value and employment.  In essence, administration seeks to either provide time for a business to restructure and become profitable.  As a statutory body, the NHIB is not a company and cannot be placed in administration.  Being placed under Examination in accordance with section 39(2) of the Public Finance Management Ordinance is the similar process for statutory bodies.

The objective of the NHIB entering into examination is to stabilise and rescue it through proper management and restructuring to help it return to financial viability in a controlled and orderly manner under the management of suitably experienced and qualified experts in financial management.

The NHIB will continue to operate and carry out its functions.  These steps are being taken to ensure that the underlying business operations are undertaken through strong financial and administrative management and where necessary, restructuring.   Section 39(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Finance Management Ordinance allows for the Governor, on the advice of the Cabinet, to remove the members of the board of the NHIB from office and appoint a new board or a person to take over the management of that statutory body.  Acting in accordance with section 39(2)(b)(ii) of the PFM, Her Excellency the Governor Dileeni Daniel Selveratnam, acting on the advice of the Cabinet –

  1. a)         removed the existing Board of the NHIB and appointed an Interim Board, as follows:
  2. i)          Permanent Secretary, Premier’s Office, Interim Chairperson;
  3. ii)         the Deputy Governor or her representative;

iii)       the Attorney General or her representative;

  1. iv)        the Permanent Secretary, Finance or her representative;
  2. v)         the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry with responsibility for health or her representative;
  3. vi)        the Director of Health Services (Chief Medical Officer);

vii)       the Director of the National Insurance Board;

viii)     the Interim Chief Executive Officer.

  1. b)         appointed INTERPATH, an experienced professional firm as examiner in accordance with section 39(2)(i) of the PFMO.

The Hon. Minister of Health, Kyle Knowles, acting on the policy advice of the Cabinet, has today appointed Dr. Pharez George, as Interim Chief Executive Officer for the time being.

Examination is appropriate because the NHIB is financially distressed but has underlying value and serves a key purpose.  Section 39(2) of the PFMO empowers to the Governor on reasonable grounds, to place the NHIB into examination, where the financial viability of the NHIB is at risk or the NHIB poses systemic risks to the public finances.  The statutory body examination process may be a tough and intimidating one for the staff of the statutory body, but it can help provide a much-needed recovery route if conducted in the correct manner leading to greater security for the beneficiaries and staff alike.  Having the professional assistance from a qualified insolvency practitioner will help the Interim CEO and the Interim Board to understand their responsibilities and legal obligations at what a difficult time for not only the business is, but for Board and employees, suppliers, clients and all creditors owed money.

The examiner is required to immediately take over the day-to-day management of the NHIB and must put together a precise and extensive plan of action for the Government’s approval.

Commenting on the agency’s restructuring, Minister of Health and Human Services, Honourable Kyle R. Knowles stated “The Ministry of Health and Human Services remains committed to upholding the highest standards of governance and accountability. To improve confidence in the NHIB, an interim leadership team has been appointed to oversee its day-to-day operations through a stabilization and rescue plan that will result in a full review of its current structure and operations and recommendations for restructuring. This plan will focus on strengthening financial controls, enhancing operational transparency and accountability  and efficiency of operations and service delivery in the best interests of the health of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Honourable Premier and Minister with portfolio responsibility for Finance, Honourable Charles W. Misick stated “The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands is unwavering in its dedication to safeguarding the public’s health and trust and ensuring that the NHIB operates with integrity, efficiency, and accountability. My Ministry reassures the public that all necessary steps are being taken to reinforce financial discipline within the institution. The well-being of our people remains our top priority. We will continue to work diligently to improve confidence in the management and operations of the NHIB, ensuring that it fulfils its mandate effectively and that the healthcare needs of our citizens and residents are met without compromise.”

Bahamas News

Don Jr. Bahamas Wedding to Proceed Without President Trump

Published

on

USA, May 22, 2026 – Donald Trump Jr. is expected to marry Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson this weekend in The Bahamas, but despite speculation surrounding the high-profile ceremony, the exact location remains tightly guarded.

Multiple U.S. media outlets report the couple selected a private island in The Bahamas for what is being described as a small, intimate Memorial Day weekend wedding with roughly 50 close friends and family members in attendance. So far, no publication has publicly confirmed which Bahamian island or cay will host the ceremony, though reports consistently describe it as a secluded and heavily private setting.

The secrecy has only fueled curiosity in a country made up of more than 700 islands and cays, many of which are favored by wealthy international visitors for destination weddings and luxury retreats.

On Friday, President Donald Trump confirmed he will not attend the ceremony, citing international tensions and responsibilities at the White House.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “While I very much wanted to be with my son, Don Jr., and the newest member of the Trump Family, his soon to be wife, Bettina, circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so.”

Earlier in the week, Trump had indicated he would “try and make it,” but acknowledged the timing was “not good” because of ongoing tensions involving Iran.

Donald Trump Jr., 48, became engaged to Anderson, 39, in December 2025 at Camp David after about a year of dating. This will be his second marriage.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

Over a Week Later, Bahamians Still Waiting on Full Election Numbers

Published

on

The Bahamas, May 22, 2026 – More than a week after Bahamians voted in the country’s 2026 General Election, complete official constituency voting figures still have not been publicly released by the Parliamentary Registration Department.

While winners have been declared across the country’s expanded 41-seat Parliament, no centralized official breakdown showing constituency vote totals, turnout percentages, rejected ballots or margins of victory appears to have been published publicly.

The Progressive Liberal Party is widely reported to have secured 33 seats, while the Free National Movement won eight seats, according to tallies carried by several media houses, including the Nassau Guardian’s election tracker and other regional reports.

Still missing, however, are the underlying numbers which would allow the public to independently assess voter participation levels across the country’s 41 constituencies.

That absence is drawing increasing attention following an election already marked by concerns over long lines, advanced polling confusion, voter register complaints and questions about election administration.

Unofficial turnout estimates circulating in local media place national voter participation near 58 percent. If confirmed, that would represent the lowest voter turnout in modern Bahamian general election history.

Historically, The Bahamas has recorded strong election participation rates, with turnout often exceeding 80 percent in previous decades. But participation declined sharply in 2021, when official turnout fell to roughly 65 percent — at the time considered historically low.

Now, the Coalition of Independents says it plans to challenge aspects of the election process in Election Court and is escalating its criticism of the handling of the vote.

In a sharply worded statement issued to media, Coalition Leader Lincoln Bain announced the party will boycott the opening of Parliament, insisting the election was “flawed from start to finish.”

The Coalition claims the country cannot “celebrate ceremony while justice is ignored,” arguing that unresolved election concerns continue to hang over the legitimacy of the process.

Among the concerns raised by the COI are:

  • allegations of voter register irregularities;
  • claims that the voters register remained open after Parliament was dissolved;
  • accusations of vote buying;
  • concerns tied to the Pinewood constituency race;
  • alleged constitutional breaches involving undeclared government contracts;
  • and alleged conflicts of interest involving gaming operators serving in Cabinet.

The Coalition also referenced allegations surrounding criminal influence and drug-related claims connected to political operations, while calling for what it describes as a “serious local investigation.”

In its statement, the COI said there has been “no proper public accounting, no local investigation announced, and no Commission of Inquiry launched into these matters.”

The group is now demanding a formal Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of the election and related allegations.

Bain said the boycott of Parliament is “not a boycott of democracy” but instead “a stand in defence of democracy.”

The statement further argues that Parliament itself must be protected from “corruption, conflicts of interest, criminal influence, and electoral fraud.”

So far, election authorities have not publicly indicated when complete certified constituency voting figures will be formally released.

And that delay is becoming increasingly significant because the missing data includes the very numbers needed to understand whether Bahamians truly disengaged from the electoral process in record numbers.

If unofficial turnout estimates are accurate, it would mean voter participation in 2026 either matched or fell below the historically low 2021 election turnout — despite The Bahamas recording one of its largest voter registration totals ever, with more than 209,000 people listed to vote.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

Continue Reading

Health

Grand Turk Residents Fear Norovirus-Linked Cruise as Health Ministry Approves Docking

Published

on

Turks and Caicos, May 22, 2026 – Residents in Grand Turk raised concerns last week after a cruise ship previously linked to a major norovirus outbreak was cleared to dock in the Turks and Caicos Islands days after passengers were reportedly denied disembarkation in The Bahamas over health fears.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak sickened 115 people — including 102 passengers and 13 crew members — during a voyage which ran from April 28 to May 11. The illnesses involved symptoms commonly associated with norovirus, including vomiting and diarrhea.

The outbreak became public on May 7 and quickly triggered concern across the region.

Authorities in Nassau reportedly refused to allow passengers off the vessel because of public health concerns connected to the outbreak.

That decision later fueled anxiety among some Turks and Caicos residents when the ship proceeded to Grand Turk on May 15.

Residents’ concerns were not without cause.

Norovirus is a highly contagious viral illness often associated with cruise ships, hotels, schools and other environments where large groups of people share close quarters. The virus primarily causes sudden vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea, and spreads rapidly through contaminated food, water, surfaces and person-to-person contact.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most healthy people recover within one to three days, but norovirus can become serious — and occasionally fatal — for elderly individuals, young children and people with weakened immune systems because of severe dehydration. While the overall fatality rate is considered very low, the CDC estimates norovirus contributes to hundreds of deaths annually in the United States, mainly among vulnerable populations.

The Turks and Caicos Ministry of Health and Human Services had said in a press statement on May 15, it believed the risks had been effectively neutralized before the vessel arrived in Grand Turk.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Ministry said the ship had already returned to Florida, where passengers disembarked and “comprehensive sanitization and deep-cleaning procedures were completed” before operations resumed.

The Ministry also stressed that its Public Health Team maintained “close and continuous communication” with the ship’s medical personnel, Carnival Cruise Line officials and stakeholders at the Grand Turk Cruise Centre before approving the docking.

Routine inspections and standard port health procedures were also carried out, according to officials.

The Ministry further reassured the public that there were “currently no public health concerns” associated with the vessel’s arrival.

Still, the situation once again highlighted the delicate balancing act Caribbean nations face between protecting public health and sustaining tourism economies heavily dependent on cruise arrivals.

Officials are now encouraging vendors, taxi operators, tour companies and businesses to continue practicing strong sanitation and hygiene measures as an added precaution.

Residents were also reminded that frequent handwashing remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of norovirus and other infectious illnesses.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING