News
Budget Address reveals Major Developments Coming to Howard Hamilton International Airport
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – May 22, 2025 – The long-awaited redevelopment of the Howard Hamilton International Airport (HHIA) in Providenciales is nearing a critical milestone, with Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Arlington Musgrove, announcing that final bids for the project are now under review.
The update came during his 2025/26 Budget Debate contribution in the House of Assembly, where the Minister detailed a suite of airport improvement initiatives planned by the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA).
Highlighting progress on one of the country’s most transformative infrastructure projects, Musgrove confirmed that final bids for the HHIA redevelopment were received in December 2024 and are currently being evaluated by the Government’s Procurement Unit. The evaluation will determine whether a successful tender has emerged, allowing the project to move forward into its next phase.
The redevelopment project is part of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and includes the construction of a new state-of-the-art passenger
terminal and a parallel taxiway to support an anticipated 2.5 million annual passengers. The process began in August 2023 with a call for prequalification, which attracted significant international interest. Five consortiums were shortlisted to submit final proposals, including global airport operators and construction leaders such as Manchester Airports Holdings, Ferrovial Airports, VINCI Airports, and Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico. In addition to the major redevelopment, the TCIAA’s capital programme for this fiscal year features a number of key upgrades to support operations and passenger experience across its network. These include continued efforts to alleviate congestion at HHIA, acquisition of modern security screening equipment, and enhancements to fire rescue capabilities—including water rescue gear and the completion of a new control tower and fire hall in Providenciales.
The Ministry also plans to develop a Fire Training Ground in Middle Caicos, modernize its accounting and human resources systems, and implement an island-wide CCTV upgrade to improve safety and surveillance across all airport locations.
Musgrove reiterated the Government’s commitment to inclusive growth, noting plans to launch a project-specific investment fund that will allow Turks and Caicos Islanders to invest in the HHIA project and earn dividends from its success. He also confirmed that a dedicated PPP Performance and Contract Monitoring Unit will be established to manage the private partner relationship and ensure long-term accountability.
“The HHIA redevelopment is not just about a better airport—it’s about building economic opportunity and resilience for our people,” said Minister Musgrove.
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
