News
CLASP Officially Launched, Marking Major Reform in Crown Land Management
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, January 21, 2026 – The TCI Crown Land Unit, operating under the National Land Secretariat, brought strong momentum and public engagement to the launch of the first Outreach Event of the Crown Land Access Support Programme (CLASP) Initiative on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex, with senior government leaders and members of the public in attendance.
The event recorded a strong turnout across both the Open Day, held during the afternoon, and the Town Hall session held in the evening.
Attendees included Her Excellency the Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, the Honourable Premier Charles Washington Missick, several Members of Parliament, Permanent Secretaries, senior government officials, key stakeholders, and residents from across the islands, all of whom gathered to learn more about the program and its role in reshaping land management in the TCI.
CLASP is a national initiative designed to modernize how Crown Land is managed, allocated, and accessed across the Turks and Caicos Islands. The programme brings together multiple government departments to establish clear rules and procedures, improve coordination, strengthen systems and data, and promote better transparency and fairness in the use of public land. A central focus of CLASP is improving public communication, including clarity around what Crown Land is used for, who can apply, and how decisions are made.
In her remarks, Her Excellency the Governor, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, emphasized the national importance of land reform, stating: “Crown Land is far more than a matter of policy; it speaks to identity, heritage, opportunity, and belonging. For generations, land has
represented security, independence, and the foundation on which families build homes, livelihoods, and generational legacies. I encourage everyone to engage in the CLASP outreach programme, share your perspectives, and contribute to a system that reflects the needs and aspirations of the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
The Open Day allowed attendees to engage directly with representatives from the various government departments involved in CLASP, providing information on Crown Land programmes, housing and homeownership opportunities, beach and coastal accessways, and other key components of the initiative.
Addressing attendees at the event, Premier Charles Washington Misick highlighted the scale and significance of the reform, noting: “CLASP represents the result of years of careful work, collaboration, and a clear decision by this government to confront long-standing legacy challenges. For far too long, many Islanders have experienced frustration, uncertainty, and delays when navigating land access and housing pathways. Through CLASP, we are responding with real structural change across government. This is about building trust, improving service delivery, and ensuring public land is used responsibly for current and future generations.”
The Town Hall session saw a large and engaged crowd, with residents actively participating, asking questions, and seeking insight into how
CLASP will impact land access, housing development, and community planning. The session provided an open forum for dialogue and feedback, reinforcing the programme’s people-centered approach. Alexandria Missick, Permanent Secretary of the National Land Secretariat, added: CLASP is not just about policy; it is about people. This programme strengthens and equips the National Land Secretariat with the systems, tools, and inter-agency coordination needed to better support residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands as they navigate the Crown Land process.
For more information on the CLASP Initiative, members of the public are encouraged to contact the Crown Land Unit at 946-1145 or 338-2645, visit www.gov.tc/crownland, or follow @tcicrownlandunit on social media.
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
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