News
Environmental Health Department Launches Climate-Resilient Water Safety Planning with CARPHA Support
PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, May 5, 2025 – The Environmental Health Department (EHD), under the Ministry of Health and Human Services, in collaboration with consultants from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), successfully conducted a technical mission from April 28 to May 2, 2025. This mission marked the initial phase in the development of a Climate-Resilient Water Safety Plan (CR-WSP) for the Turks and Caicos Islands, aimed at strengthening national efforts to safeguard public health through improved water management.
The purpose of the mission was to assess the country’s capacity to support the development and implementation of a Climate-Resilient Water Safety Plan. This included identifying key stakeholders, describing the current state of drinking water systems across the islands, and laying the foundation for a structured risk assessment and management process that will ensure the delivery of safe drinking water, even in the face of climate-related threats.
Representing CARPHA were Mr. Shane Kirton, Officer-in-Charge of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development (EHSD), and Ms. Abbigail Liverpool, Technical Officer. Their visit involved a series of consultations and site visits with various stakeholders in the water sector. Meetings were held with the Water Undertaking Department, Provo Water Company, the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR), the Planning Department and the National Public Health Laboratory. These engagements provided valuable insights into the existing systems and highlighted areas for improvement and collaboration.
As part of the visit, site assessments were conducted in Providenciales and Grand Turk. Visits to key facilities, including the Provo Water
Company, Grand Turk Water Undertaking Department, and the Grand Turk Cruise Center, offered a clearer understanding of current water management practices and operational challenges. The team also completed a stakeholder mapping exercise, defining the roles, responsibilities, and mandates of each organization involved in the sector, as well as how they interact within the national water management framework.
This visit represents the first of three technical missions, with the Water Safety Plan expected to be completed by September 2025. The next phase of the project will involve a comprehensive risk assessment of the water supply systems in Grand Turk and Providenciales. CARPHA has committed continued support to the Ministry of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Health Department through the donation of water testing equipment and the provision of training materials, which will support capacity-building efforts for Environmental Health staff.
Minister of Health and Human Services, Hon. Kyle Knowles, expressed his full support for the initiative, stating:
“The development of a Climate-Resilient Water Safety Plan is a vital step toward ensuring the long-term health and well-being of our people. I commend the Environmental Health Department for leading this important work and thank CARPHA for its technical guidance and continued partnership. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient water management system that meets the needs of our islands today and into the future.”
The Ministry of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Health Department express their sincere appreciation to CARPHA for their technical assistance and continued partnership in advancing water safety and public health in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
For more information about this initiative or the ongoing work of the Environmental Health Department, please contact ehd@gov.tc or call 338-2143/44.
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
