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Governor Welcomes UK Joint Force Headquarters Delegation to Bolster Disaster Preparedness

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 14 August 2025: Her Excellency the Governor welcomed a delegation from the UK Ministry of Defence’s Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) this week, currently in the Turks and Caicos Islands to support and enhance vital contingency planning for national disasters and emergencies.

The visit is part of the UK’s enduring hurricane preparedness support to the Caribbean Overseas Territories and aims to strengthen readiness for possible deployment as part of a coordinated, multi-agency response alongside the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. The JFHQ team includes specialists in planning, logistics, engineering, intelligence, and communications, working in close collaboration with the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME), the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF), and the TCI Regiment.

Throughout the week, the team will familiarise themselves with critical national infrastructure, including designated shelters, hospitals, ports, utilities, and telecommunications facilities. So far, in Providenciales they have visited Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, the Marine Operations Centre, the Ports and Airports Authority, the Gustavus Lightbourne Stadium Shelter, All Saints Church, and the DDME depot. The engineering team also travelled to South Caicos, supported by District Commissioner Ms. Yvette Cox, and to North and Middle Caicos with the support of District Commissioner Mr. Osbourne Delancy. Visits to Salt Cay and Grand Turk are scheduled for later this week.

Speaking during the visit, Her Excellency the Governor said:

“As Tropical Storm Erin reminds us, the need for constant vigilance and readiness is real and pressing. Preparedness remains our strongest safeguard in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather events. The expertise and strategic support provided by the Joint Force Headquarters team is a welcome boost to our ongoing national planning efforts. Together with our TCI agencies, we are reinforcing the systems and coordination needed to protect the lives, property and wellbeing of residents across our Islands. The safety and resilience of the Turks and Caicos Islands remain an absolute priority.”

Lieutenant Colonel Angus Precious (Royal Marines), who is leading the delegation, emphasised the team’s mission to reinforce existing plans and ensure seamless integration of UK military capabilities, if and when needed.

“Our role is to work alongside local agencies to identify areas where additional support may be required, ensuring the territory is as resilient as possible,” he said.

This visit builds on the arrival in July of Royal Navy vessel HMS Medway, which remains stationed in the region to support hurricane preparedness, disaster relief operations, and the safeguarding of maritime spaces across the Caribbean.

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Frontier Airlines’ Arrival to Turks & Caicos Marks a Game-Changing Connection

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Turks and Caicos, October 25, 2025 – Budget-friendly skies are opening over the Turks and Caicos Islands as Frontier Airlines prepares to launch its first-ever nonstop flights between Providenciales International Airport (PLS) and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) — the world’s busiest air hub.

Starting December 20, 2025, the twice-weekly service will offer residents and tourists a direct, affordable gateway to and from the U.S. mainland. The new route marks Frontier’s debut in the Turks and Caicos, part of a major regional expansion that includes 22 new routes across Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.

“We couldn’t be more excited to begin operations in Providenciales,” said Josh Flyr, Frontier’s Vice President of Network and Operations Design. “With our nonstop service to Atlanta, we’re making travel easier, more affordable, and unlocking connections to countless destinations across the U.S. and beyond. It’s not just about tourism — it’s about opportunity.”

Big Win for Providenciales and the Region

The move positions Howard Hamilton International Airport as a growing Caribbean hub. Frontier’s low-fare model is expected to stimulate visitor arrivals, particularly from Atlanta — a key U.S. tourism feeder city — while giving Turks and Caicos residents new, cost-effective travel options for business, education, and leisure.

Industry observers note that the timing couldn’t be better. Turks and Caicos tourism remains on an upward trajectory in 2025, with hotel occupancy and airlift both climbing following the pandemic rebound. Frontier’s entry adds competitive pricing to an air market long dominated by legacy carriers, expanding the reach of the destination to more budget-minded travelers.

A Wider Growth Strategy

The Atlanta–Providenciales launch is part of Frontier’s aggressive Caribbean push this winter, which also includes new flights to NassauSt. MaartenPuerto Vallarta, and San José del Cabo. Introductory fares to select destinations are as low as US $69 one-way.

For Turks and Caicos, the connection to Atlanta — one of Frontier’s strategic bases — means instant access to hundreds of onward destinations in North America and beyond.

As Frontier joins the expanding roster of carriers serving the islands, tourism officials are calling it a “win-win for accessibility and affordability.” And for travelers? It’s a golden ticket to paradise — at a fraction of the cost.

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Turks & Caicos Police Commissioner Urges Students to “Awaken Their Sleeping Giants”

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Turks and Caicos, October 24, 2025 – Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey delivered an impassioned address to male students at Clement Howell High School, calling on them to recognize their power, seize their potential, and “awaken the sleeping giants” within.

In a message that blended humility, faith, and personal experience, the Commissioner reminded the boys that the decisions they make today will shape their future.“The choices you make today determine who you become tomorrow,” he said.

Bailey, who revealed he was the first in his family to attend high school, urged the students to embrace education and discipline as tools of transformation.“Knowledge is power. If you want to be a real man, you need to read,” he told them. “Remember your potential — if others can do it, so can you. Some of you are sleeping giants waiting to be awakened.”

He emphasized that circumstances of birth do not dictate destiny, challenging the young men to carry self-respect, faith, and moral conviction wherever they go.  “Self-respect is key; respect yourself, respect others, and respect God,” he said.  “The circumstances you were born into do not define who you are.”

The Commissioner also spoke about resilience, advising that true strength often lies in restraint.

“There will be challenges, and people may try to impede your development — but rise above negativity. Sometimes, strength means walking away,” he said. “Some of you are sleeping lions; it’s time to awaken that instinct and rediscover your true potential.”

In closing, Commissioner Bailey delivered a stirring challenge:

“Each morning, look in the mirror and remind yourself that you were created by God and are capable of great exploits. You are a possibility with potential. Step forward with confidence — this is your country, your islands. Be the best version of yourself.”

Following his speech, the Commissioner engaged the students in open dialogue, answering questions and listening to their perspectives on issues affecting young men in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.

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ISU SUPPORTS SUCCESSFUL MULTIAGENCY ENFORCEMENT EXERCISE IN FIVE CAYS AND BLUE HILLS

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 23 October 2025 — The Crown Land Unit, supported by the Informal Settlements Unit (ISU) and the Immigration and Border Services, led the successful execution of a reclamation exercise in Five Cays and Blue Hills on Tuesday August 26, 2025. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force provided security for the operation which formed part of the Government’s mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown Land.

During routine inspections, the Crown Land Unit identified three unoccupied, illegally constructed steel and concrete block structures on parcels 60610/226, 60610/228, and 60610/239, located in the area commonly referred to as Sand Bar Street, Five Cays. Notices of Illegal Occupation were issued in accordance with the Crown Land Ordinance, however the owners of the structures failed to comply with the instructions contained in the Notices. As a result, enforcement action was taken to remove the structures and reclaim the land.

The exercise resulted in the full reclamation of 1.18 acres of Crown Land, with the removal of three unauthorized structures which were all block and concrete structures from foundation to belt beam stages of development.

Following the reclamation in Five Cays, the team proceeded to Blue Hills where ten Letters of Illegal Occupation were served across two parcels, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to land protection and management.

The ISU reaffirms its commitment to supporting partner agencies in the coordinated management of Crown Land, ensuring that all enforcement actions are conducted lawfully, efficiently, and in the public interest.

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