News
Gaming Bills pass; Worry expressed over Gambling Addiction
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, February 1, 2024 – The passing of two new gaming bills has again raised longtime concerns about gambling in the Turks and Caicos.
In an effort to better regulate the Gaming industry, two new pieces of legislation, The Gaming Control Amendment and the Gaming Machine amendment bill were passed in the House of Assembly on January 23rd allowing gaming taxes to be calculated from adjusted gross receipts and mandating a 30 percent tax limit for gaming machines.
The laws also gave casinos a 15-day limit each month to pay said taxes. While members generally agreed that the new regulations were necessary, some concerns were raised about the social issues related to gambling.
Alvin Garland, Opposition Appointed Member, said it was not in the best interest of Turks and Caicos residents. Not
only was he displeased that the government brought the Gaming Control and Gaming Machine Amendment Bills as the first matters after the new year, he said it could harm locals.
“We are beginning to see there is an increase in addictive gamblers in the Turks and Caicos, and instead of us bringing legislation to encourage them, we should be bringing legislation or finding ways to discourage Turks and Caicos Islanders from gambling.”
Garland referenced The Bahamas, who he said had strict gambling laws for its people, and stressed that gambling could still be profitable, even if it was directed only as a pastime for tourists, which had been the initial purpose of the Turks and Caicos first casino.
Another concern for Garland was that the profit from the Casinos and Gaming halls would not be going to Turks and Caicos islanders anyway.
“Individuals that profit from gaming in the Turks and Caicos are not Turks and Caicos Islanders,” he continued “ The two casinos, most of the gaming houses, if not all, are owned by foreigners. They make their money by Turks and Caicos Islanders gambling. the only way gaming establishments can make money is if the people who are gambling lose their money.”
Garland again raised the issue of potential social impacts.
“It is not an indictment on this government, but it’s an indictment on any government, that we should be doing more to discourage Turks and Caicos Islanders from gambling and that is just the reality of it. We do not want to be promoting gambling for our people.”
In response to the comments, Washington Misick, TCI Premier, who was leading the debate, maintained that there were protections for residents in the 2018 iteration of the bill.
“The Commission shall set aside specific funding which shall be used for the purpose of a program to deal with problem gaming and addictions, and the money shall be used for treatment of problem gaming and substance abuse and related research,” Misick quoted as a rebuttal to Garland’s concerns.
The Premier also quoted another provision which mandated that gambling houses submit an annual compulsive and problem gambling plan.
The protections in Section 23 as read by the Premier were more geared toward those already engaging in gambling rather than prevention.
Harold Charles, Governor’s Appointed Member, also chimed into the debate with similar concerns. Citing the government’s use of Singapore as an example used in the creation of the bill he said, “In Singapore, they do not allow their residents to gamble, the only people who gamble are high net worth individuals.”
The Premier had, during the debate, said that Singapore’s example showed that effective regulation can strike the necessary balance.
Charles stressed that some Turks and Caicos residents had already become trapped in the system. 
“There was a young man who approached me to tell me he was in trouble he couldn’t pay his rent because he was addicted to gambling—-this is something that has really been bothering me because I know that before we didn’t allow our locals to gamble and we changed that and I don’t believe that that’s a good thing.”
Hon Charles urged the government to consider restricting individuals below a certain net worth from gambling in their legislation, as a caution for residents.
“We have a moral responsibility to look after and protect our people,” he stressed.
“That is an argument that could potentially strike at the heart of democracy,” Misick responded to the calls for banning gambling for certain residents though he maintained that government intervention was necessary in some cases.
“The issue of Turks and Caicos Islanders gambling is one that can be discussed in the public arena, if that is the will of the people of these islands,” he said
The Premier reminded that the members across the floor were free to bring a bill to the house to discuss who was allowed to gamble, but firmly maintained that the purpose of the current bills were to do nothing more than provide regulatory control of the industry.
News
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT REGARDING RECENT THREATS MADE AGAINST TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AIRPORTS AND SCHOOLS
May 6th, 2024 – As co-chairs of the National Security Council, Her Excellency the Governor and the Honourable Premier condemn strongly recent threats made against Turks and Caicos Islands airports and schools.
We have zero tolerance for these disruptions and the alarm that they cause. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) continues to work closely with partner agencies and will keep the public updated as we manage the situation.
The National Security Council wishes to reassure residents, travellers and parents that the safety and security of our Islands is its highest priority.
All appropriate measures are being taken to address these threats and all required security protocols are being followed.
The Airports Authority and the Ministry of Education, with school principals are collaborating with the RTCIPF investigations.
We encourage the public to be extra vigilant against phishing and malicious emails and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
We appreciate the understanding of the public as we work to ensure the safety and well-being of our airports, schools and communities.
Press Release
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS (May 3rd, 2024) The Turks and Caicos Islands’ Grace Bay Beach has once again been recognised among the top beaches in the world.
The World’s 50 Best Beaches has listed Grace Bay Beach among the top beaches in the world.
Grace Bay Beach, located on the island of Providenciales was listed at number 17 on the annual list.
The World’s 50 Best Beaches list, sponsored by Banana Boat, is a collaboration with over 1,000 of the world’s leading travel influencers and professionals.
The World’s 50 Best Beaches 2024 is a reflection of the opinions and experiences of top travel influencers and professionals around the world. The beaches were ranked according to eight important criteria: unique characteristics, wildlife, untouched, soundtrack of nature, easy to enter the water, often calm water, not too crowded and frequency of idyllic conditions.
Grace Bay Beach also featured among the top 20 in the 2023 World’s 50 Best Beaches list.
This is the latest accolade for Grace Bay Beach this year. Known for its powdery white sand and breathtakingly turquoise blue water, the famous beach was adjudged the number one Caribbean beach in February in Tripadvisor’s® Travelers’ Choice® Awards and Best of the Best for 2024, ranking number five among the Top 25 Best of the Best Beaches in the world.
In January 2024, Grace Bay was recognised as the #9 Best Beach in the Caribbean in the 10Best Reader’s Choice with Bambarra Beach in Middle Caicos ranked at #2.
Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Josephine Connolly said she is proud of the continued recognition of the leading beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“As a destination that prioritises sustainable development and environmental preservation, the fact that Grace Bay Beach features consistently as one of the top beaches in the world stands as a testament to our commitment to stay “Beautiful by Nature”. I urge visitors to come to the Turks and Caicos Islands to experience this and many other of our beautiful beaches across the Turks and Caicos Islands,” said the Minister.
Tine Holst, Co-Founder of The World’s 50 Best Beaches, said the list is meant to inspire travellers.
She said: “Our 2024 list is a reflection of the countless days spent by our judges, Beach Ambassadors and World’s 50 Best team discovering beaches around the world. The list will help inspire travelers to leave the beaten path behind and enjoy the most stunning and relaxing beaches on earth”.
Read World’s 50 Best Beaches description of Grace Bay Beach here.
News
Family of 16 yo Tourist claims negligence in jet ski death; TCI Coroner’s Court hearing evidence
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, May 2, 2024 – The family of a 16-year-old who died in Grand Turk six years ago while on a Carnival Cruise into Grand Turk is a little closer to closure as the Turks and Caicos Islands Coroner’s Court has opened his case for an inquest.
“On Wednesday, May 16th, 2018, at 11:30 a.m. Police and Emergency Medical Officials responded to a two-jet-ski collision that left a 16-year-old male dead, near the Cruise Terminal in Grand Turk. Two people were involved in the collision. The second male did not receive any injuries. This incident is under Police investigation.”
That was the brief police report in the aftermath of Nicholas Twyman’s death.
In the comments dozens of residents and visitors claim to have been on the scene that day, as the boy was pulled ashore, some trying to assist while others looked on, horrified.
Coroner Mickia Mills called up the case on March 21, 2024 almost six years after the incident occurred. Mills is in charge of finding out what exactly happened that day in Grand Turk and whether there was any negligence or if it was simply a terrible accident. 
That verdict will be for the coroner and her potential jurors to decide. However, the family has shared their version of what happened that day.
A lawsuit filed in Florida Courts in October 2019 (Twyman v. Carnival Corp) detailed the heartbreaking hours that led up to the death of Nicholas. In it, the plaintiffs, listed as Gyjuanna TWYMAN and Michael Twyman, claim that they docked in Grand Turk and were curious about using the jet skis; both parents and the son were told by the Carnival team aboard the ship that there was not a formal shore excursion in Grand Turk involving jet skis, but that jet skis would be available for rent by the hour.
The family from Indiana claims three jet skis were rented, one for Nicholas, another for his father, Michael, and another for a different passenger, while their mother remained ashore. Wet Money Enterprise is listed as the jet ski company.
The family says they were given little instruction on using the Jet Skis, especially their son who was a new rider. The lawsuit maintains that Michael was not given any instructions other than being told where the kill switch was and not to ride too close to the cruise ship.
Sometime during his excursion, the young man crashed into the other jet ski. The family claims that neither Carnival Cruises nor representatives from the jet ski company responded. They say it was his father who spun around on his own jet ski, dived into the water for his son, and brought him to shore.
Once there, it was the young man’s mother, a registered nurse, who started emergency medical care.
When Turks and Caicos’s EMS did arrive after 15 minutes the family claims they were unsure how to use certain medical implements and had to be directed by the distressed mother.
The court documents list the cause of death for the young man as blunt force trauma and drowning, similar to what is listed in the TCI courts.
Coroner Mills, who took up her position in 2024, will oversee the proceedings which continued on Tuesday, April 23rd.
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